First-years face finals for the first time

In the chilly December air, hundreds of students make their way across campus through the snow. With the zeal and enthusiasm of the first semester at college, the first-years dutifully brave the biting cold wind on their trek to Bush Library. Finals are approaching.

For many of us, this fall is simply the third, the fifth, even the seventh semester of our college careers, no different than any other semester. But for those students for whom this December marks the closing of their very first semester in college, it is a milestone.

“It kind of hit me like a train,” said first-year Rob Monson, currently trying out a Communications major with a Sociology minor. Regarding his experiences this semester, he said, “I wasn’t expecting everything to get started so quickly.” Monson has been working his way through 17 books this semester, and although he said it was difficult, he hopes he will be better prepared for the spring semester.

Oracle staffers prepare to travel Europe

Lindsay Merrick-Thompson, reporter, is spending second semester in Sevilla, Spain.

Oracle: Why Spain?

Merrick-Thompson: I was originally thinking about going to Ecuador, but I wanted to have a chance to take classes and do an internship. I learned that you could do both in Spain.

O: You’re staying with a family. What will that be like?

LMT: I’m not really sure what I’m getting myself in to, with the way things are gendered in Spain. You don’t just go into the kitchen and grab a snack like you would here, so it’s going to be kind of an adjustment.

O: You can’t grab whatever you want from the kitchen?

LMT: From what I’ve been told, the kitchen is the domain of the woman of the house.

Women and buying cars do not mix, according to many salesmen

Winter weather has a very negative effect on our cars, from the salt and sand they lay on the roads to the freezing cold weather we experience here in Minnesota. Either way, these conditions cause many people to take their vehicle in to a mechanic to aid the car’s transition into winter weather. My car, however, has a larger problem. It needs to be sold and a new car must be bought.

As a woman, I find it intimidating to buy a new car from a dealership for the sole reason that many car salesmen are discriminatory toward women, proven by personal experience. I have had salesmen talk down to me, snap at me, or ignore me completely. Many, assuming that I don’t know anything about cars, have tried to take advantage of me and sell me a car for more than it is worth, or with more miles than it should have. I know that I am not the only one who has experienced this.

Novel vs. film; the answer to Pride and Prejudice

Film and literature have always had a love/hate relationship, and it’s probably because film is generally regarded as literature’s more popular, less talented younger sibling.

People turn out in droves for films year after year (whereas publishers struggle to find anything outside of Harry Potter that people will stand in line for), yet one of the most-clichéd phrases regarding movies I’ve ever heard is “the book was better.”

The argument is with literature, one can more easily assess the inner-workings of one’s mind, the text
version of a story is much fuller. This is certainly the case with the recent version of Pride and Prejudice.
For those unfamiliar with the story, this is the tale of five sisters, Elizabeth Bennett chief among them, who are scouting around for husbands. The film clocks in at a little more than two hours, which would normally be enough for a romantic comedy, but since this is one of the greatest love stories ever told, it could have done with a little more length.

Basketball women fall to St. Kates in second heartbreak loss of season

The womens basketball game against St. Catherine last Wednesday, was a replay of the game against Gustavus that took place last week, with another close loss for the Pipers, who were beaten out 75-72.

The Pipers got off to a great start with senior Laurisa Ewert scoring two after the tip-off, soon followed by two from junior Ashlee Sensor. The Wildcats tried to get on the board but were having troubles with shooting, leaving Ewert and Senser to take turns putting the ball through the hoop and leaving the Wildcats in the dust.

With the score at 9-0, St. Catherine was finally able to score as Jenna Martin made a field goal. Moments later she fouled Senser. Senser made both shots and the Pipers were able to make a couple more baskets before the Wildcats felt the need to call a timeout at only 4:26 into the first half with the score at 13-2.

Under the covers...with Nick Bell

Dear Nick:

Deep Throat Deux