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Forum Editor
Ashley White
amwhite06@ole.augie.edu

Core values under scrutiny
Christian value believed to be exclusive, restrictive

By Lindsey Isaacson

Mirror Guest Writer
March 13, 2008

The core values of Augustana College are as follows: Christian – by being a college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America; Liberal Arts - by providing an education of enduring worth; Excellence - by committing to high standards and integrity; Community - by caring for one another and our environments and Service - by affirming that wholeness includes reaching out to others.

All but one of these are inclusive to all members of society. If there is exclusion by the very first of these values, where is the integrity and excellence, the sense of community and the wholeness of service?

It is no lie that many students choose Augustana because it offers the small, Christian environment they seek. However, before Augustana is a Christian college, it is a place of higher learning, of outstanding professors and of a committed and striven student body. If the school did not provide the quality of academics the students who come here need and deserve, the student population would be very small, regardless of the Christian activities offered.

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Abroad Perspective
Skipping class not an option for students in China

By Phil Mulder

Mirror Staff Writer
March 7, 2008

Last week Adam Broin, my friend and fellow “Euph’” player, wrote an editorial about the English education system. I noted a few similarities and some fundamental differences between English and Chinese higher education. If I have not had the pleasure of meeting you, I am the lone Augustana Viking studying in Beijing this semester at the University of International Business & Economics (UIBE).

First, in the People’s Republic of China, two 18-week semesters are broken up between the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) break starting in January and the summer break beginning in July. As compared to Adam’s “breathing room,” my classes require nearly full attendance for survival.

With 15 hours of language courses per week and teachers that know very little English, I have to pay close attention to every spoken word and every written character. Learning completely new pronunciations and vowel sounds is very difficult, and associating those sounds with complicated characters is even harder.

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Advocates of women’s rights must first support each other

By Elise Trujillo

Mirror Guest Writer
February 29, 2008

As one of 1003 women attending Augustana and founder of the Augustana Women’s Association, I constantly wonder what issues are afflicting women.  I have thus attempted to address these issues. Over the past two months, I have been involved in two projects on campus: the Love Your Body Campaign, founded by the National Organization for Women; and the V-Week Campaign, designed to raise awareness about violence against women.

These are complicated issues that often make me doubt that one person can really make an impact and change the situation of women.  But I am reminded to keep fighting the good fight. 
I fear, though, that it is perhaps the understanding that we are within a battle that complicates things for us. 

I think what women need is not simply to fight against society, but to stop fighting each other.  While we must not forget the external battle between women and society, we must remember to look at how we can support our fellow women to assure we obtain empowerment and solidarity.  This is one area where we can truly make a difference by simply coming together. 

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Soapbox
Soapy offerings highly questioned

By Mike Billeter

Mirror Staff Writer
February 22, 2008

Although various issues and concerns have arisen at Augustana College in the last few years (such as safety on campus, Division I vs. Division II athletics and people throwing things out of windows and down fire escapes), there is a serious issue that has gone unnoticed and unchanged for far too long. This is an issue that affects all of us on a (hopefully) daily basis, and it is an issue that must be resolved for the future of student-kind at Augustana.

I may be a senior, but that doesn’t mean that the generations of students to come can’t one day enjoy a better, brighter future on this campus. It’s been about three or four years since this problem first presented itself, and it is my sincere hope and dream that the situation will change before it is too late.

Augustana College needs new soap.

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Soapbox
Presidential election provides no clear winner in either party

By Sam Eisele

Mirror Guest Writer
January 25, 2008

Recently, a question I’ve been asked often is something like, “So who do you like?” The answer has nothing to do with school, sports or my social life. Rather, I’ve been talking presidential candidates.

It’s not that my vote counts for much. I’m registered to vote in South Dakota, whose delegate count for the Democratic National Convention is dwarfed by that of Puerto Rico.

I’m not writing, however, to complain about the political influence (or lack thereof) of the northern plains. Rather, I’m frustrated that we’re in an election year that’s both very exciting and very important…and I don’t like anybody.

Those who know me best know I usually vote democrat. Nevertheless, I’ve tried to do my homework on both parties, given the weight of the choices our country faces. I realize that my perfect candidate will never be on a ballot, but I’ve still found it difficult to make a solid choice.

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Fair Trade raises doubts about students' concerns

By Catherine Beddow

Mirror Guest Writer
December 7, 2007

I’m a skeptical person in general. I don’t like to take things at face value. I want to know where someone gets his or her information, how this information was obtained and what hard evidence goes behind authoritatively declared generalities.

Maybe that’s what caught my eye about a recent - and I’m assuming ongoing - campaign of the Augustana Coalition for Social Justice (ACSJ) to “make trade fair” and get Fair Trade coffee in the Huddle everyday.

The two statements that caught my eye were that most Augustana students want Fair Trade coffee and that the Huddle currently offers no Fair Trade options.

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Concerns go unnoticed

Administration must begin addressing campus problems publicly, student says

By Nathan Elg

Mirror Staff Writer
November 30, 2007

Augustana administrators can rake in millions of dollars for Augustana’s future.

Our administrators can establish an Augustana presence in the Sioux Falls community “like never before.”

And our administrators can organize a football stadium on campus in less than one year.

It seems they can do just about anything.

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Registration frustrates undecided freshman

By Nakita Podhradsky

Mirror Staff Writer
November 30, 2007

There is a sign posted on my floor entitled “Before I Went to College, I Wish I Had Known…” It is composed of facts about college life, such as “No matter how late I schedule my first class, I will sleep right through it,” and “I could change so much and not realize it.”

You know what I wish it said? I wish it told me what classes I should take. I wish it said “Take this class - its fun,” or “Don’t worry about taking that class – you’re just going to change your major.”

Picking out the right classes is always hard. It’s not easy to get where you’re going if you only have a vague idea of where you want to end up.

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