Professor still in critical condition

Professor Tania Forte, who suffered a brain aneurism several weeks ago, remains in critical condition as of press time, said Associate Dean Alzada Tipton. Tipton said Forte is on life support and weekly MRIs have shown an increase in brain activity.

Forte collapsed while attending a conference at Hamline’s School of Law. She was rushed to Regions Hospital, where doctors diagnosed the brain aneurism. She was operated on that day, and has remained in a coma and in critical condition since being admitted on Oct. 29.

University Chaplain Theresa Mason, who has served as a liaison between Forte’s family and the university, was out of town and unavailable for comment.

Forte teaches courses in Women’s, Global and Conflict Studies in addition to teaching a Social Justice course.
- Matt Lutz

No, really, Super Size me; College students often turn to fast food for a quick fix

University of Minnesota thirdyear Alan Zocher sits in a conjoined Arby’s/Sbarro restaurant on his work break.

Across the table from him is MCTC student Rob Struder, who works alongside Zocher at a small South Minneapolis grocery.

Between bites of pepperoni pizza, Zocher explains that he eats fast food regularly.

He feels a little guilty about his habits.

“I eat [fast food] about twice a week,” he said. “I know it’s unhealthy. I kind of feel bad about it.”

The Arby’s/Sbarro is haphazardly arranged, its floor littered with straw wrappers and crumbs. But Zocher and Struder don’t necessarily come for the environment.

Editorial: Thank you, Garvin

The Oracle staff would like to thank Garvin Davenport for his four decades of dedicated assistance to the student body of Hamline University. Starting off as an English professor, he worked his way up to Vice President of Academic Affairs, always keeping the students in mind. He had a hand in creating many programs that benefited the student experience. Davenport helped create the Hamline Writing Center, Hamline Plan, First-Year Seminar program, and the four-year assurance of graduation program, among other things. We are saddened by the news of his retirement and don’t want to see him leave at the end of the academic year.

The newspaper staff has had many a wonderful interaction with Davenport. “The man is an institution unto himself,” Editor in Chief Matt Lutz said. “He was always a fun guy to interview,” News Editor Sean Bailey said. “I only interviewed him once or twice, and I always enjoyed it.” Garvin has always been open and
available, should the Oracle need him as a source for a story.

Social issue genre falls flat again with release of North Country

There’s no denying that film has issues. How else would Paris Hilton be cast in anything, even a Grade Z horror flick?

Yet, film is also about issues, as is illustrated by North Country, and this typically poses a problem for me. Movies like North Country are deemed “important” by politicians and the media, and I admittedly go through a guilt trip for not liking the production.

The fact is, social issue films have a number of clichÄs that hinder their ability to present a decent story, and North Country falls into this trap with disappointing ease.
For starters, films about issues always make the main characters saintly. This is partially because the main character is the good guy, the hero, and also because issue films often have some sort of basis in a real life story, and the inspiration doesn’t want the story to shed them in any bad light.

Swimming and diving set records and standards for season

The year 2005 has been good to sports at Hamline. Mens soccer just wrapped up their record breaking season, the cross country program is riding the crest of a wave of success that shows no signs of letting up, and now the swimming and diving teams are hoping to jump on that same tsunami of success.

It’s true that the last two years have been less than pretty for Hamline swimming and diving. It’s also true that both the mens and womens teams have struggled significantly in the MIAC and non-conference competition, but this year will be different, says the team’s head coach Andy Hanson.

“[The team] wants a more serious program, and I want to help give it to them,” said Hanson.

“Every year we’re showing improvement in numbers, but more importantly, work ethic, competitive spirit, and overall attitude.”

Under the covers...with Nick Bell

Dear Nick:

Lately I’ve been having a rather troublesome problem when I engage in random hook-ups. As the instigator of these situations I experience extreme excitement and erotic arousal right before intercourse. It doesn’t matter where I meet these people, whether it be online or at a club, because they’re all just hook-ups to me. However, several times I have experienced difficulty maintaining my erection. I don’t know why it’s happening, but I do know that I suddenly get soft and it takes a long time to get back to performance level. Even then it comes and goes intermittently. Some of my partners have made fun of me and said I need Viagra. I am only twenty, so why is this happening?

Erection Resurrection