Oracle Online

Last year when the student congress passed their resolution banning recruitment, I was embarrassed to be a student at this institution. Being the butt of every political commentators joke on radio, print, or television in the Twin Cities was not something that I looked forward to hearing. But, I had to hear them because it was a good idea to ban recruiters on campus, due to the military’s “institutionalized discrimination against the GLBT community.” Once again, I completely understand their situation, but there are better ways to voice your displeasure with this entire situation. When I think about this, I remember something my parents always told me. If someone is bullying you or trying to get under your skin, leave them alone. Don’t egg them on and they will go away. I think that the student organizations on this campus view the military recruiters as bullies because of their political views and their ways. Well, guess what, by making a huge issue out of this, and continuing to not let this die, you are just making Hamline a target for recruitment. If I was a military recruiter, I would want to show up on campus, because I wouldn’t want to let a student organization at a university bully me around.

My point here is to not get everyone going. But I am really tired about hearing about this. There are far more important issues on this campus than whether or not military recruiters are on this campus. How about we spend some time policing ourselves by keeping trash and cigarette butts off of the ground? I really enjoy nothing more than walking to class and having to avoid the plume of smoke there is outside of every building and all of the butts that seem to find their ways onto the ground. Or, how about we focus on keeping possible sex offenders off campus and away from students? I am hoping in the next issue of the Oracle, there will be some discussion about the security alerts that were sent out over the weekend Feb. 25-26. It seems there is never any discussion about the real threats there are around this campus, for example muggings, thefts or harassments of students. I am much more worried about students being targeted by money-making schemes and sex offenders peeping in windows than I am about the military having their recruiters visible on campus, and I am hoping the rest of the student body is getting there too.

-Josh Heasley ‘06

Administration must take stand

Students FOR Peace had a letter published in the last edition of the Oracle regarding military recruiters on campus. A key section of the letter was cut from the published version. This editing decision altered the tone of President Hanson’s attitude towards this issue, making her sound supportive and engaged with our efforts to oppose the discrimination implicit with allowing military recruiters on campus. However, President Hanson did not show any interest or support of our efforts and, refusing a pamphlet, responded “Oh, that again.” By making this editing decision the Oracle is showing an unwillingness to publish anything critical of President Hanson. Our ongoing efforts make it crucial to hold the administration accountable for their lack of actions in addressing military recruitment. In refusing to print President Hanson's remarks, the Oracle is complicit in the administration’s refusal to act on, or even acknowledge, the importance of resisting military discrimination against the GLBT community. We are disappointed in the administration for its blatant disregard, and the Oracle for censoring material that highlights this disregard.

-Maxine McDonald and David Lueth
Students FOR Peace

HUSC treasurer endorses Pesko-Seeman

Through all my experiences within HUSC, I have seen many visions and programs fall by the wayside. HUSC is the official voice of all Hamline CLA students and works hard to fulfill its goals. Hence, it is now time to choose new leadership for the upcoming academic year.

The candidacy of Mike Pesko and Taylor Seeman personifies goal accomplishment.

Through Pesko’s HUSC leadership experience, his volunteer work in the MISA office, and social justice-based research, he embodies the principles and initiative that are essential in electing a president.

Seeman’s contributions as a first-year representative and tireless efforts within a multitude of student organizations also cannot go unnoticed. Her vast working knowledge of parliamentary procedure and ability to delegate and prioritize agenda items are at the core of what we should all want in a vice president.

The frame of the Pesko-Seeman campaign is based around eight different realistic and attainable goals. They, like I, believe that these goals and initiatives will work to serve the betterment of all students on campus. While we must recognize that two students can only do so much, I firmly believe that Pesko and Seeman can and will fulfill their commitments to the Hamline student body.

My personal experience in HUSC has taught me a great deal of things, the most important being the dedication to the students and the various organizations that they are part of. I agreed to support Pesko and Seeman’s candidacy because I see the same dedication and commitment within these two great student leaders. They truly embody Wesley Principle of “doing all the good you can.”

I strongly urge all of my fellow CLA students to go out and vote on March 8. Support the team of Pesko and Seeman.

-Peter David Winiecki
HUSC Treasurer

Student supports write-in candidates

Why should you vote for Joe Goetzke and Blake Lindevig for HUSC? Why not? Joe and Blake are trying to run a successful write-in campaign for HUSC vice-president and president, much to the dismay of some HUSC members. They were actually asked if they were running as a joke when they went to register themselves as candidates. I don’t know about you, but that sounds to me like someone is a little nervous about two ordinary guys running for the coveted offices of HUSC president and vice-president.

The fact that they are running on a write-in campaign makes the prospect of voting for Joe and Blake even better. What would be wrong with a little new blood in HUSC? At least it would help to bring in a new point of view, perhaps one that isn’t from the “political elite” (or so they think) that have been roaming around this campus. Also, they collected more than enough signatures to actually run a campaign. They actually got 65 signatures in less than two hours; obviously there are some people that want Joe and Blake to win.

But why a write-in campaign? When they realized how much of a problem it would be to put up with all of these “HUSC-games” they decided to drop out of the running. However, several students on campus have decided to take this to another level and write them in. It is not the HUSC members who get to decide who gets to be president. It is the student body.

Joe and Blake only have one plank for their platform: they are not running for political and self-gratifying reasons . They are running to try to improve how HUSC handles student complaints. They are both excellent listeners and people that can be trusted to confide in. They aren’t into corny gimmicks or catch phrases to get the attention of the people. They are going to use common sense and their ability to listen to students to make the campus a better place to live. They have never been involved in HUSC before, and that is what makes them unique to this campaign and will help to bring in a different point of view.

Remember to write-in Joe Goetzke for vice-president and Blake Lindevig for president. They will bring in a good change of pace and some new blood, so what can it hurt? They have my vote-I hope they have yours too. It’s definitely time for something different, something unconventional. Show everyone that you’re ready for a change. For more information, check out the Facebook group I’m Voting for Blake and Joe.

-Ed Elfmann ‘08