What’s in a name? Building a university legacy
Student wonders what the U can do about buildings named for controversial figures—and the legacy they leave behind.
A trial run for law school
Learning law and the legal process brings new confidence to a student minoring in political science.
Connecting past to present at the ‘Periphery’
Metro State student turns the spotlight (and his camera lens) on a community theater production that hits close to home.
Ready new major? Why Metro State should level up on game studies
Game on! Student wants to give game studies extra life and make it a major at Metro State.
Legislature’s hazy language makes legal pot look dubious
Student clears the air on likelihood of legal marijuana in Minnesota this year.
Requesting student conference funds is no fun
Student describes the bureaucratic hell of seeking SAFAC money.
Learning local history over a plate of spaghetti
Student captures scenes from an Italian restaurant for a community engagement class project.
Political unity is possible in DC
Student has a hopeful, heartfelt takeaway from a conference in the nation’s capital: working across the aisle is possible.
Capturing Capitol lessons in leadership
TRIO peer mentor chooses involvement over indifference—and will vote for the first time on Election Day.
Leaders cope with challenges, choices—and crying
Student reflects on the change she sees in herself after attending Student Life’s 9th annual Transformational Leadership Retreat in October 2018.
Social media purges mean it’s time to unfriend Facebook
Value your freedom of expression online? Student says you should flee Facebook for a freer social media platform.
Exercise your right to vote, because others aren’t as lucky
Biology student says the right—and responsibility—to vote is a precious thing.
Leadership learned on the tennis court
Computer science student credits the mental game of tennis for preparing him to lead in life.
Millennials need to make waves
Opinion writer makes the case for millennial voting power.
Too meager to meet the need?
Student is skeptical that Food for Thought’s new space is sufficient.
In the face of fake news, make facts sacred
Political science student says we can all take small steps to fight fake news.
The stress fest of college
Columnist says college students are stressed to the breaking point by cost of tuition, textbooks, housing, food. Unpaid internships add insult to injury.
Unintended consequences of $15 an hour in St. Paul
Economics professor warns that raising minimum wage may hurt workers it’s supposed to help.
The wastefulness of institutionalized misogyny
Political science student says gender double standards rob higher education and government of great leaders.
The struggle and stigma of mental illness
Student says she’s not giving up on college. “I want my degree no matter my diagnosis.”
Self-defense and moral sense
Libertarian student would never deny law-abiding citizens their natural right to self-defense.
Students must seize their political power
Political science student wants peers to speak up on politics and policies.
For profit or people?
Opinion writer praises the stability of public colleges over the empty promises of for-profits.
Get involved, don’t snub the clubs
What do you tell yourself to justify not joining a student organization? “I’m too busy.” “I’m only on campus once a week.” “I’m too old for student clubs.” Well, it’s time to ditch the excuses.
It’s time: Safety of schools and college campuses depends on sane gun laws
It’s time to admit it. It’s time to stop denying it. Something needs to be done. America’s unhealthy obsession with guns is killing our kids.
In defense of liberal studies
I recently heard about a faculty proposal to drop or reduce the eight-credit liberal studies graduation requirement at Metro State. My first thought was: so what?
Overlooked, underwhelmed and on my own
Psychology graduate student laments her lack of classmates and course offerings.
The process begins in the precincts
Feb. 6 precinct caucuses kick off the 2018 midterm elections.
Commentary: Student says ‘hear, hear’ for Shakespeare
On our first day of class, we went around and did the usual introductions: name, major, and why we were taking LIT 377 Shakespeare. Many of my fellow students said they put off taking the class until their very last semester.
Don’t swap free speech for safe space at Metro State
I read with interest Mitesh Rai’s opinion piece (“Charlottesville on my mind”) in the September 2017 issue of The Metropolitan. I agree with Rai that the events in Charlottesville on August 11 – 12 were tragic and represented a significant step backward as a nation.
A hawk’s-eye view of high school
Surreal. That’s the only word I can find to describe my emotions that day. It’s one thing if you see a disaster hit somewhere else and you think, “Oh, those poor people”.
Don’t let local elections go below the radar
The list of issues that affect our day-to-day lives goes on and on: body cameras on police officers; well-maintained roads; bike lanes; fair and affordable housing; property taxes; parks and libraries; garbage collection; good schools; and the fight over the $15 minimum wage.