(Photo courtesy V2_lab) Hyper reality is defined as an inability of consciousness to distinguish reality from a simulation. Jeff Therriault Connector Staff We exist in a world drenched in representational art. From birth we experience representations of reality on television, in cinema, books, paintings, theatre and elsewhere, every day of our lives. The unfortunate result of…
The burn out of the semester, how exhaustion coupled with a global pandemic is affecting students
(Photo courtesy Lucas Araiza/The Occidental) Student burn out is affecting a multitude of students this semester. Kaitlyn Sullivan Connector Staff As Midterm season comes and goes, I am sure that many students are experiencing the dreaded yet inevitable burnout. If you have been fortunate enough to have never experienced burnout, it is a state of constant…
Midterms already? How fast time seems to be going by for students
(Photo courtesy blog.cort.com) Midterms typically occur halfway through a college semester. Jessica Daniliuk Connector Staff As of today, we will be on our eighth week of school. It feels like we got here just yesterday, but we have been in school for seven weeks! When I was a freshman in high school someone told me…
The value of games that have fighting in them
Jeff Therriault Connector staff Too often I see people dismiss fighting games as merely something some people do to relax and have fun. Of course, playing fighting games like Street Fighter III: 3d Strike and Super Smash Bros. Melee for some casual fun is perfectly fine to do, but they have such potential to be…
Fan fiction is real writing , one students opinion
(Photo courtesy of Kelly Heigert/KQED) Fan fiction is writing based on a pre-established published story. Victoria Eluszkiewicz Connector Editor You have no idea how much it annoys me to my core when people disparage fanfiction writing as “not real writing.” Fanfiction is written stories, so it’s real. I thought that was simple. Apparently, it isn’t.…
Texas abortion ban
(Photo courtesy of Sergio Flores/The Washington Post/Getty Images) According to the CDC, nearly half of pregnancies in the United States by 2011 were unintended, and the reported percentage was higher just three years before in 2008. Kyra Barry Connector Editor According to the CDC, nearly half of pregnancies in the United States by 2011 were…
America guarantees free speech, not freedom from criticism
Sohini Nath Connector Staff Yes, it is true- unfortunately, bigotry is allowed under the First Amendment in our Bill of Rights. Freedom comes at some price, and this means there is legally nothing stopping a person from making despicable comments based on a group of people and insulting them for it. Most people would agree…
Being Back on Campus: Overwhelming or Just New? One students opinion
(Photo courtesy of UMass Lowell) Students are back in person for the fall semester. Jessica Daniliuk Connector Staff I think everyone can agree that we have had the craziest past two years. With that has come the greatest number of changes I’ve likely ever experienced in my life. One minute, we were doing in-person classes…
