MM 2003 // C. Thomas Bailey

November 18, 2025, saw the creation and implementation of SAU's new Recycling Trailer Program. The project was overseen by SAU's director of Volunteer Services Katie Tejada in collaboration with the SOAR Sustainability Conference Board. It plants a physical trailer dedicated toward collecting recyclable material on the northeast corner of the Reynolds Center parking lot. ( A photo of Greene Hall , a dorm involved in making SAU greener) I was cynical as to how effective this addition to campus would be, but seeing the numbers helped me put things into perspective. More than 3,000 recyclables were submitted in 2023, all of which include paper, cardboard, plastic, and aluminum. This shows that a good percent of the student population care about recycling, an initiative I assumed most (including to an extent, me) would be indifferent to. Although, the university does have Greene Hall, a dorm where its residents are mandated in taking part in making eco-friendly choices. So, this m...

Pop singer Billie Eilish has recently made tremendous waves this late October at the Wall Street Journal Innovator Awards, where the singer revealed that she will be donating $11.5M to numerous charities and organizations. To put it into perspective, $11.5M is nearly one-fifth of Eilish's net worth (an impressive $53M).  The announcement was made as she accepted Wall Street Journal's Music Innovator of the Year Award. Eilish claims that the donation will be given to organization/charities concerned with food equity, reduction of carbon pollution, and research into climate crises. Eilish had this to say on the matter: This move was especially pointed, considering Eilish's company at the time. Billionaires such as FaceBook creator and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Star Wars  director George Lucas, and cosmetics manufacturer Hailey Bieber were all in attendance at the time of Eilish's statement. The singer knew it was both the time and place to make such a huge announcement. T...

Many North Americans are delighted to know that they have a chance to see the northern lights, a sight of great interest according to its recent popularity surge on social media. The northern lights, or Aurora Borealis , are born from shifts in solar winds in the Earth's magnetosphere. This causes ionization of electrons and protons within the atmosphere, resulting in brush strokes of brilliant colors across the night sky. (The northern lights as seen in Wisconsin. From USA Today ) To the geographically favored (and even to the geographically unfavored), seeing these lights is an activity of great joy, wonder, and beauty. So they're kind of a big deal. As of November 12, 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Center Administration (NORA) predict that select North Americans could glimpse the auroras both tonight and tomorrow night. Clearly, the lights get enough buzz to warrant government-backed organizations and forecasts. (The predicted breadths of tonight's and tomor...

 The Philippines is estimated to be on of the world's most ecologically vulnerable countries according to the National Public Radio (NPR) , facing approximately 20 typhoons and storms every year. But only recently have two typhoons of great magnitude ran rampant throughout the country: Typhoon Kalmaegi and Typhoon Fung-Wong. As of November 10, The two typhoons have an estimated casualty count of 250. Kalmaegi was (currently) the deadliest of the duo, contributing to at least 96% of the total deaths.  After making landfall in the Philippines, Kalmaegi moved west through Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. The sudden mudslides and flash floods were devastating, with winds reaching 92 miles per hour. Survivors found sanctuary in various public buildings; schools and evacuation centers were were prime for refuge. (Effects of Kalmaegi in the Philippines. From the Guardian ) While Fung-Wong is much more granular in its kill count, the cyclone has displaced up to 1.4 million Filipino resid...

You might often hear people describe themselves as not being a "math person." You might know some intellectuals who struggle with long division or recognizing algebraic equations. You might even relate to both of the qualities just described. This is not a display of poor education or failing intelligence; no, this is most likely a struggle with numeracy. According to the U.S. Center of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , numeracy  is categorized into two types: "subjective" and "objective" numeracy. "Subjective numeracy is a person’s reported confidence in understanding mathematical data. Objective numeracy measures a person’s actual math skills." (Image from Freepik ) Numeracy is an invaluable skill, applicable even outside of an academic setting. Like the National Numeracy C harity states, numeracy can be used to interpret data, statistics, charts, and diagrams; manage and solve fiscal problems; and overall improve one's confidence in ...

There's no faster way to divide or alienate your Thanksgiving dinner table than by the dreaded, impending mention of politics. Politics is one of the most mind-numbing topics to have ever been conceptualized. It's also one of the most important ones, and its conceptualization is par for the course in any developing country. A rich understanding of just what policies and systems make up a country's (hopefully your own) government is crucial for any responsible citizen. (Image from Business Insider ) The study and application of the inner-workings governments is called civics. The United States has had many iterations of its own government since its founding fathers' departure from Great Britain. Nowadays, however, the U.S. government can be divided into three central branches: legislative, judicial, and executive. Each are important for maintaining the checks-and-balances of the country. But what exactly does each of them do? Legislative: The Senate and the House Also ...

The original concept of a listening post is a bit different than how journalists might use the term today. Originally used to describe any station that intercepted enemy intelligence, listening posts in the world of journalism comprise the many places one might pick up on gossip and rumors. These haunts can include barber shops, churches, campuses, anywhere where people are likely to discuss recent news and events. (The OG listening station. Taken by Jeff Geerling ) My listening post of choice is Magnolia's very own KZHE Broadcasting Station. I don't mean simply tuning my radio into their frequency (100.5 for those interested in classic country music); rather, I am a frequent, in-person visitor of the very station. Every Tuesday and Saturday, I sit in the booth and record a few commercials, either for the local university or various local stores. This is a great method for learning about the tons of activities taking place in town. Some information can be a tad irrelevant to ...