Random Rants

Students speak out about what’s on their minds in 142 words, and you’re invited! If you have a random rant, email it to us. After all, complaining in a public forum is always more fun than doing it alone.

Let’s talk about race

Q: What does it take to mobilize lots of students raced as white who have strong feelings about an issue on campus wherein they feel their rights are violated?

A: A demonstration against a proposed smoking ban in front of Nollen house.

Some of my good friends are smokers. There are smokers in my family. I tried smoking, it wasn’t really my thing, but I respect you if you smoke and I think you’ve got every right to express yourself in public. Hey, I was there with you in front of Nollen house that day, because I like to consider myself an ally to the smoking community.

Dear Students Against Grinnell Apathy, having demonstrated that you care passionately about issues concerning student’s rights and self-governance as you did last semester in the well organized smoking ban protest, Grinnell Students for Sincerity would like to see you at open forums about race. In dialogue concerning hate crimes, we’d like to see you actively involved. I’m sure you agree--there is no place for apathy surrounding these issues.

Your friend and ally,

—Sarah Lu ‘06

Scientists should know better

I’ve finally realized why I am perpetually late to my class in Noyce; every clock in the building is four minutes fast. Is this a psychological experiment designed to make everyone walking from ARH stressed and anxious? Is it some sort of time warp created by the physics department? Or is it just a trick so that you scientists can snicker at all of us perpetually late Humanities majors? You know, I would expect an entire building full of SCIENTISTS to be able to scrape together enough technological know-how to make their clocks work correctly. Whatever the hell is going on, it needs to stop right now. This isn’t Central Standard Time, it’s BST; Bull Shit Time.

—Emily Zdyrko ‘05

Thanks, Brother Ali!

Real hip hop in Grinnell, ...a rare sight. Or should I really consider that ass-grindin shit at most harris parties “music”. Been there already...all I wanna do in this rant is express my appreciation for what went down last weekend. Some sun and warmth brought to us by...ironically an Albino from Minneapolis. Thanks Brother Ali!

—Jan Maurischat, German language assistant