Ban snuffs out smoking: Cities’ anti-smoking ordinances come into full effect

Smoking bans in both Ramsey and Hennepin counties took effect last Thursday. The ban has received mixed reactions across the board, from both smokers and nonsmokers.

Sophomore Will Hein is still unsure about the ban, stating both positive and negative aspects of the change.

“Smoking’s not good, it’s bad for people, but the silliest place ever to ban smoking is in a bar, so I’m kind of in-between,” he said.

Others are solidly in support of the ban, including senior Julie Wroblewski, who sees the ban as part of a nationwide trend.

“I think it’s something that is starting to take place around the country,” she said. “I can see how bars and restaurants can be hurt at first during the transition, but once it becomes more common, people will accept it as a smart and healthy change in society. People shouldn’t have to be exposed to secondhand smoke when they go out to dinner.”

In Ramsey County, 116 businesses have already filed and received exemptions from the ban.

A glass shop and gallery, rolled into one joint

Sunsi Glass Designs, at 555 Snelling Ave., has been a fixture in the Midway community for nearly four years, selling blown-glass pipes, jars, vases, and other handmade gifts. Now, the store owner, 2001
Hamline graduate Chris Aus, is working toward turning the store into an art gallery, shying away from what he calls the “head-shop stereotype.”

Aus and fellow Hamline graduate Eric Schoon opened the store opened in September of 2001. Aus received his training through an apprenticeship with now-rival Clown Glass during his junior year at Hamline. After some time there, he trained Schoon, and both left to start the business. Schoon has since left.

Right now the store is in its biggest transition. The first art show will begin on Saturday, April 9, with the goals of expanding the business and getting more local artists involved.

Errors shed light on lack of editorial policy

It’s difficult to draw the line between criticism and personal attack. Did Maisue Xiong and Colin Smith make personal attacks on Professor Martin Markowitz with their Dec. 7 letter? Did Markowitz make personal attacks on Xiong and Smith with his letter Feb. 22? There are several shades of grey regarding perceptions on both sides; the same shades surround the idea of what constitutes publishable content. Or maybe there is no line and criticism and personal attack are the same thing. There is no clear right or wrong answer here.

What we clearly did wrong, however, was run Markowitz’s 1,400-word letter. Our editorial policy said no letters above 500 words. We made an exception, and we originally wrote in this space justifying our decision. The decision was wrong, exceptionally so because we had limited Xiong and Smith to 500 words.

Preservation from defamation: Con Safos

It is seen on subways, bridge overpasses, and side-street alleys. It is felt from the bass of the car in the next lane and created in the minds of people all across the world united by a love of rhythm expression through rhyme.

And although it has become synonymous with mainstream rap, hip-hop, as well as hip-hop culture, has made tremendous contributions through the years to American culture.

Traditionally, the genre has been dominated by the east and west coasts, but there’s also been a powerful local for the past 20 years, which has given rise to its own distinct gritty, lyrically enticing sound, as well as artists that can rival anything produced near the oceans. All of this style can be heard first-hand on Hamline’s Con Safos Radio, an HU Radio program.

Softball has bumpy start to season on spring break trip

The Hamline softball team wrapped up their spring-break trip by finishing with a record of 1-7 in the Tucson Invitational Games.

“We played some good competition,” head coach Janelle Tieken said. “But we need to definitely iron out some wrinkles.”

The Pipers started their trip out on the right foot, defeating Colorado College 4-3 and ending the game with their third defensive double play of the day. They dropped their next six games but rebounded in great fashion against Muscatine Community College, where the Pipers rocked Muscatine’s pitching staff and took the game 12-7. Leading the way for the Pipers was senior Amanda Gage. The win won’t count in
NCAA stats, because Muscatine is not a four-year institution. It will be recorded as an exhibition win.

Gage went 5-for-5 in the game with a home run, triple and a total of seven runs batted in.

The Pipers finished their trip in Tucson with a loss to Iowa foe Buena Vista, 16-7.

Under the Covers... with Molly Kerwan

Dear Molly:

I’m a closeted first-year living on campus. Recently, my roommate found some incriminating magazines that point to my true sexual orientation. I was incredibly embarrassed by his discovery, but he didn’t say anything except that I should probably hide my porn a little better. I haven’t had the guts to bring up the topic with him again, but he certainly seems to be acting differently toward me since the incident. He seems to be very wary of me, and we just don’t pal around like we used to. I think he is nervous about having a gay roommate, and I worry that he is telling his friends (most of whom are mutual acquaintances) about me. How do I bring up these issues to him without making the situation worse or having everyone on campus finding out about my private life?

Out of the Dorm Closet