Lucas Gebhart

Editor-in-Chief

Thumbs up: Pauline Thiros

ISU’s interim athletic director has spent the last 23 years working in various roles at ISU. She seems to understand that there are some fundamental flaws to ISU’s athletic department. Originally, President Satterlee said she wouldn’t be considered a candidate for the full-time role, but his change of heart shows the type of work Thiros has done in her short time as ISU’s interim AD. The athletic department could use somebody like Thiros. Her positivity, energy and commitment to Title IX will not only benefit ISU as a whole but be a refreshing change of pace to collegiate athletics.

Thumbs up: ISU’s CMP Department

It’s a small department, but man, do these professors care. From top to bottom, the CMP Department at ISU has helped shape me into the professional and student I am today. Every professor knows me on a first-name basis, where my hometown is and what my goals are. That’s rare, especially at state universities. I can get one-on-one time with any of my professors at virtually any point in the semester. How many other departments can say that?

Thumbs up: New advertising agency

I’m excited to see where ISU goes in the next five years. The new advertising firm, Mitchell and Palmer, worked with President Satterlee while he was at Boise State. This company will help ISU reshape its brand as early as January through state and nationwide advertising. This is the first step to changing ISU’s tainted reputation. Maybe when Mitchell and Palmer get going, ISU won’t be confused with Iowa State anymore or people won’t think our mascot is the Vandals.

Thumbs down: Enrollment numbers

ISU’s fall enrollment numbers show a 2.5 percent decline in undergraduate students. That’s not good. The school needs to figure out a way to get that number up. The less students that enroll at ISU, the less money the school gets in tuition dollars, and tuition is what drives a university. It’s a main source of income and without it, it will be hard for ISU to go in the direction it needs to go.

Thumbs down: Global warming

The latest report from the United Nations indicated a strong risk of a crisis as early as 2040. For those who need help with math, that’s 22 years away and is well within the lifetime of most people. Dealing with this crisis would mean cooperation and action among nation leaders and right now, the U.S. has a president who is denying human-involvement with climate change and vowed to worsen it by pulling out of the Paris agreement. This report was edited by 91 scientists from 40 different countries. This is not a political issue. We are on the cliff of a crisis, and in order to avoid it, we need our leaders to understand what the cost of doing nothing is.

Thumbs down: People who drive with their high beams on

I don’t think these people realize that there is more than one person on the road. I realize that they can feel safer with them on, but think about this: how safe are you when you are the only one on the road that can see where you’re going? Driving is the most dangerous thing humans do. People lose their lives every day because of car accidents and things like drunk driving. Inconsiderate speeders and high-beam drivers are why this numbers are so high. Be careful and take others into consideration when you’re cruising down the road listening to Johnny Cash.