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Augustana Observer

Augustana Observer

Augustana Observer

Unplugged and thriving: why college students should give the “digital detox” a shot

Yael Haddad November 16, 2024

On a college campus, the only thing more constant than tests and caffeine runs is the buzz of notifications: texts, Snaps, endless TikToks and never-ending emails. Screens have become the ideal third roommate,...

First-Year Lucien Dong enters one of the all-gender restrooms on the second floor of the Thomas Tredway Library at Augustana College. Students can also use single-gender restrooms on the library's 1st, 3rd and 4th floors.

For the safety of trans and nonbinary students, Augustana needs more gender-neutral restrooms

Sarah Holzman November 16, 2024

Gender-neutral or all-gender restrooms are important for all students to feel comfortable on campus. Augustana should prioritize putting them in every building to ensure all students can use the restroom...

First-Year Faizan Pal prepares sandwich condiments at The Gerber Center on Nov. 6.

Work to live or live to work

Phat Lam November 16, 2024

College life offers many transformative experiences, and one of the most important is career readiness. For many Augustana College students, this readiness is facilitated through the C.O.R.E. program,...

From the right, Sophomore Youssef Chekkoricreates a new website design
for K&S Tool Repair Company on Photoshop; First-Year Carlos Cartagena learns basic HTML and Sophomore Blake Sloyan practices his skills on Photoshop and Illustrator in the EDGE Center on Nov. 1.

Pay to play: The hidden costs of unpaid internships

Phat Lam November 9, 2024

As the need for real-world experience becomes an essential stepping stone for career success, internships have become a popular pathway for students and recent graduates, including those at Augustana....

Giving students Election Day off would prompt them to go vote

Sarah Holzman November 9, 2024

Voting is important because politics impacts everyone in one way or another. It is just as necessary for young adults to vote as much as anyone else, particularly college students. This is why Augustana...

No bags, no solution: Why the C-store’s bag ban fails to address campus security concerns

Yael Haddad November 9, 2024

In an effort to reduce possible theft, the recent removal of bags from the on-campus convenience shop (often known as the "C-Store") has sparked disagreement among students, particularly those living in...

Student feedback resources can’t be useful and inaccessible

Sarah Holzman October 26, 2024

Student feedback is one of the most important aspects of running a successful college institution as many students learn and live at the school they attend.  With this in mind, it must be an environment...

Damage charges applied to all students — is this fair?

Yael Haddad October 26, 2024

Imagine checking your student account and seeing an unexpected bill — one unrelated to your tuition, housing or food plan but for damage caused in a communal space.  When the accountable individual...

Augustana’s First-Year Diego San Pedro plays against Grinnell College’s Billy Cherres on Oct. 19, 2024.

Augustana can do more for its student athletes

Phat Lam October 26, 2024

Like many other schools, Augustana College has a sizable student-athlete population that juggles the demands of athletics and academics.  This dual position can provide special difficulties, especially...

Reading/Writing Center Director, Lucas Street (right), talks at the RWC all-staff meeting on Oct. 17, 2024.

AI in the RWC is not the write idea

Chloe Baxter October 26, 2024

In the age of rapidly advancing technology, artificial intelligence (AI) has permeated various aspects of our lives, including education.  At Augustana College, the Reading and Writing Center (RWC)...

Squirrels scamper across the tree at Augustana College, where diverse wildlife adds vibrancy to campus life. Students often spot rabbits, birds, and even the occasional deer amid the school's leafy grounds along the Mississippi River.

Does Augustana College raise enough awareness of the wildlife species on campus?

Phat Lam October 19, 2024

According to The National Wildlife Federation, they have been working with 4,100 colleges and universities to improve the life of local animals across the U.S., including Augustana College. This can be...

Free lunch periods at Augustana: A welcome break, but at what cost?

Yael Haddad October 19, 2024

Augustana College has implemented a revised schedule that includes a specific "free period" from 1 to 2 p.m., a time for extracurricular activities, lunches and much-needed breaks. The goal of the altered...

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