Black Friday brings us together

For some, Black Friday is a consumerist holiday that causes nothing but crazy lines, ridiculous fights over toys and trips to the hospital. However, for others, like myself, Black Friday is an amazing holiday filled with magical deal busters and memories to last a lifetime. Black Friday strengthens bonds between friends and family. Whenever my […]

The black sheep of holidays

Ah, Black Friday: the only time of year when being part of an angry mob is considered socially acceptable and no one will question why you’re in front of the doors of Target at 3 a.m.  Black Friday has become a U.S. tradition, but is it really one that we should keep around? Behind the […]

Art can’t be free

Art has become muddled when it comes to finances. Yes, art is important and should be widely available, but it simply cannot be free. People often justify illegally downloading music by saying it won’t hurt the already-wealthy artist. This mindset is not only wrong, but harmful. In the case of the music industry, most of […]

Art is about creation

If artists want to sell a product they produced or charge for their performances, they have every right to do so. It is their product after all. However, sales and profit are not the primary purpose of art. Art at its core is about creation. If you need a payment to create, then maybe you’re […]

Trigger warnings are just warnings

According to the Atlantic, the dean of students at the University of Chicago sent a notice to incoming freshman warning them that trigger warnings were not supported by the university. “We do not condone the creation of intellectual ‘safe spaces’ where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own,” the letter […]

Faceoff: We’ve reached our tipping point

Danny Meyer, owner of local New York restaurant Union Square Café, eliminated tipping in his restaurant and instead will increase his menu prices to make up the difference. Some believe tipping is unnecessary and should be taken away altogether, while others think employees deserve tips along with their wages. Referring to tipping as an awkward […]

Faceoff: Take a tip from me

Danny Meyer, owner of local New York restaurant Union Square Café, eliminated tipping in his restaurant and instead will increase his menu prices to make up the difference. Some believe tipping is unnecessary and should be taken away altogether, while others think employees deserve tips along with their wages. Referring to tipping as an awkward […]

Faceoff: Just relax

Being in college, I know my friends and I look forward to winter break for months. Going home and seeing your family, relaxing, watching Netflix, seeing hometown friends and, of course, catching up on sleep — what could be better? Though summer vacation is three and a half months long, winter break only lasts three […]