Opinion

Family is more than who you're born with

Jessica Barnett

Editor

My mother is cooking Thanksgiving dinner at my grandparents’ house this Saturday. The whole family is invited. 

For my mother, this means both grandparents, her three siblings, my stepdad, my six siblings, my two brothers-in-law and my two nephews. I don’t have cousins on her side, and significant others are only invited if they put a ring on it.

Ask Asia: How should I handle holidays with my family?

Ask Asia: How should I handle holidays with my family?

Asia Duren

Advice Columnist

Q: I was finally able to be myself this semester, but my family doesn’t know about it and would probably disown me if they found out. I can’t just skip the holidays, but how am I supposed to sit across from the table and pretend it’s okay for them to make such horrible comments about people like me? –Trapped

A riddle, a realization and a refusal

A riddle, a realization and a refusal

Jessica Barnett

Editor

Let's start with a riddle. There's a person running for president. This person has years of political experience, a lot of influential friends and a firm belief that women are equal to men. In fact, catering to women has played a big part in the campaign. That said, the person also has a reputation for being untrustworthy, which has caused a fair amount of trouble during the campaign.

Ask Asia: How do I get the most out of this semester?

Ask Asia: How do I get the most out of this semester?

Asia Duren

Reporter

Q: It’s only a month into the semester, but I’m pretty sure I’m failing one of my classes. What do I do? – Worried
A: There are so many things you can do! First, are you actually paying attention in class? Are you completing homework on time? Have you committed enough time to studying? If you said no to any or all of those questions, you should be trying harder in the class. If the answer to those questions is yes and you are still struggling, talk to your professor. He or she can give you some guidance. If you need the class to graduate, then try and stick it out. Go to the Student Success Center on the first floor of Reneau Hall and get a tutor. If you do not need the class to graduate, talk to your professor about getting a WP and dropping the class without it counting as a failing grade. You have options. I promise this is not the end of the world. 

From sketchpads to skyscrapers...

Jessica Barnett

Editor

From day one, it felt like this semester set itself apart from every semester before it. It’s almost as if the campus got dumped into an alternate but mostly similar universe, where it’s close enough to reality that we assume it is but just different enough that we feel the need to comment on it.

I say “we” because all it takes is attending one class or eating a meal on campus to hear other students saying the same.

The greatest achievement of my life so far

Jessica Barnett

Editor

In my first editorial of this semester, I talked about adventures and stories. I advised everyone to set out to create their own and to be unafraid to share it. Over the next two months, I encouraged people to vote and to keep their heads up as the semester neared an end.

I wonder if any of you actually managed to do those things. What adventures did you go on this semester? What were they like? Did you share your story with someone new?