Jack Forrest, managing editor: I don’t get the hype for Sonic the Hedgehog, and I don’t think I ever will.
Eric Cannon, opinion editor: Beavers are the coolest. In fact, everything I seek to be in life, a beaver already is. Not only is the freshwater mammal, with teeth that regrow, a thrifty, honest, simple jack-of-all-trades — adventurer, architect, engineer, carpenter, civil servant, good host and, when he retires to the warmth of his lodge on a brisk fall night, I’ll bet a philosopher, too. Not only does he want for nothing more than nature has granted him, but earnestly safeguards the gift and wastes nothing of it. He is also a loyal friend and family man. The average beaver lodge fits six to eight beavers, a family, not counting the muskrats, voles, mice and waterfowl that the beaver also gives shelter to, free of charge. “Lodge” is such a delightfully homey name for the beaver’s abode.
Beavers, when they are of age, find their own riverside plot, mate for life and are ever dutiful in the most mundane and ordinary aspects of caring for an ecosystem. There is scarcely another animal that better captures the image of Salesian virtue, American pioneering and Tolkien’s Shire-ic way of life. The anarchic keepers of their land, laws-unto-themselves, Beavers shun bureaucracy and gaudiness. In Czechia, they cut past red tape and built a dam overnight in the spot the government had planned to put one for seven years, at a fraction of the cost.
I’m not saying President John Kennedy had the Beaver in mind when he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you,” but he didn’t have the otter in mind. That’s for sure.
(Penguins are also cool but bear the misfortune of poor geography, and being bird-brained.)
Ursula Stickelmaier, arts editor: Otters are both the cutest and the coolest. While most people may simplify the otter population into river and sea otters, there are actually 13 recognized species of otters around the world. They are also one of the smartest marine animals in the world, with a curiosity level that is said to rival that of dolphins. They use things like rocks as tools so they can crack open shells, and otters in captivity have been known to do things like stack cups and play basketball. They also have fantastic memories, and some will use social cues they pick up from other otters to solve puzzles or foraging challenges.
Otter mothers are incredibly devoted to their pups and essentially become floating nurseries for the first few months after their babies are born. I can’t name another marine animal as devoted to their children as an otter — just another quality that makes them so endearing. One of the most famous qualities of an otter — and by far one of the cutest things any animal can do — is that they hold hands when they sleep to keep them from floating away. This is because otters have been known to build strong family units and lasting friendships. While a portion of otter species mate for life, their tendency to form strong friendships is much more important. As humans, the friendships we make can be defining attributes of good character. I value those same qualities in an otter.
If you want an animal that is cute, curious and incredibly loyal, choose the right semi-aquatic mammal, choose an otter.
Andrew Miller, co-editor-in-chief: In the question of “did post-Napoleonic Europe avoid another great power war for 38 years before Russia decided to vulture on Ottoman decline,” Austrian Foreign Minister Klemens von Metternich did a competent job. That was indeed a hard task. But by any other definition, this supposed paragon of 19th-century diplomacy is overrated. It is insane how idolized he was and is in some circles. He misunderstood and inflamed German and Italian nationalism. Both, and notably the former, would define the coming century after the Congress of Vienna. He failed to understand the dual social-economic revolutions coming from France and Great Britain, aiding Austrian decline. We have retrospect, but others understood the trends of nationalism and liberalism and adapted.
Natalia Nelson, enterprise editor: Oat milk is objectively the best milk substitute. Cashew milk and macadamia nut milk are too pretentious, almond and soy milks are too watery. Oat is the only way to go. With that, there is no reason coffee shops should be charging extra for plant milk. The world is already unkind enough to those who are lactose intolerant.
Jimmy Rush, visuals editor: The oatmeal raisin cookie is the greatest dessert food of all time.
Chloe Oden, news editor: The Justin Bieber “Beauty and a Beat” music video is one of the best music videos ever.
Mia Hilkowitz, co-editor-in-chief: Veggie pizza is the best type of pizza. People who disagree and say it’s gross are just children. Grow up and eat a mushroom.
Alayna Wilkening, managing editor: “Despicable Me” is a fantastic movie and is one of Steve Carell’s best performances. It's not the minions’ fault they got plastered all over Facebook memes.
Isabella Vesperini, GA editor: Netflix’s “Age of Attraction” is one of the most entertaining reality TV shows I’ve ever watched. The premise of not knowing your partner’s age until you commit to them and then seeing how they get along when they move in together one week into knowing each other is so ridiculous but also funny to watch. It’s a more unique show than the other reality TV I’ve seen.
Hayden Kay, GA editor: I loved “Heated Rivalry” as much as the next person, but I hate to break it to y’all — women and queer people in hockey have existed this whole time. Where was your support when the Professional Women’s Hockey League was established three years ago? And yes, there have been gay men in professional hockey before: Luke Prokop, Brock McGillis, Carson Gates, just to name a few. I’m happy to have more people on the hockey bandwagon, but some of us have been on the bus for a long time.
Deshna Venkatachalam, news editor: Diet soda is better than regular soda. I could drink a cold Diet Coke for the rest of my life and be perfectly happy.
Mia Lehmkuhl, enterprise editor: Caramel is pronounced care-a-mel. There’s a whole other “a” in there. I’ll die on this hill!
Nadia Suben, opinion editor: For most classes, final exams are vastly preferable to final projects/essays. Don’t protract my suffering. Just give me a contained hour or two to rip off the Band-Aid.
Briana Pace, visuals editor: Men wearing flip-flops around campus is the nastiest thing I’ve ever seen. No one wants to see your hairy feet and grown-out toenails. It makes me cringe every time I see it. Please just wear them to the pool or the beach, not to class.
