Franzly Speaking, Issue 1

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This is a brand new publication in which we discuss real issues, with one real person, to get you real answers.

FRANZLY SPEAKING: What are your plans for the future?

FRANZ SCHNEIDER: Blue LEDs.

FS: Blue LEDs?

F.S.: Yeah, blue LEDs. I’m serious. If you want to make anything look futuristic spacey, all you have to do is add blue LEDs onto it. Blue LEDs are the future.

FS: Huh, okay. What would you say is your greatest weakness?

F.S.: Hmm, I might have to think about that one… At the moment, being unable to deal well with changes to the plan that I had.

FS: Cryptic. What are your opinions on Mafia?

F.S.: I think it’s interesting, but I don’t play it. I enjoy watching it, it’s amusing. But I don’t play it.

Tune in next issue, where we tackle even more of the important issues!

Review: Forrest Newsletter

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Early this month, I was in the dining hall and I was both surprised and pleased to find a publication called the “Forrest Newsletter” on my dining table. After poring through the well-written and informative newsletter, I was happy to know Olin students have access to publications such as these. Without high-quality, high-impact journalism such as that found in the Forrest Newsletter, I fear Olin will succumb to inferior sources of Forrest-related news and information. I’m glad the hard-hitting and informative articles found in the newsletter are available to the Olin community on a monthly basis. In fact, I wouldn’t say it is a stretch to compare the publishers of the Newsletter to Johannes Gutenberg, at least in terms of revolutionizing the dissemination of important information.

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Selling Community Service

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Twenty hour car rides allow for a wide range of conversations. It was during the moments when I wasn’t napping or being told in grueling detail about how much better Southern fast food is that I heard something remarkably disheartening. From someone I believe to be a person who cares about the community and helping others, I was told that if a person wanted to make a difference they wouldn’t go through SERV.

Isn’t that what SERV is supposed to do? The acronym of the organization is to support, encourage, and recognize volunteerism. Aspiring volunteers should find an open board which can give aid and support to these community well-wishers. When I mention that I’m doing an educational project with SERV, I earn a snort of derision from many people. When I was searching for people to run for the board, I received an uncomfortable silence and awkward excuses for why they absolutely could not do SERV. Shouting at people during lunches often results in people coming up to chat but avoiding signing up for events. The question I am left with is, where did it all break down?

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The Humble Beginnings of the NES

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videogametriviaThe Nintendo Entertainment System, Nintendo’s first foray into the video game system world outside of Japan, had a long and winding path from concept to execution.

It started life in Japan in 1983 as the Family Computer, commonly shortened to Famicom.

With its red and cream plastic exterior, the Famicom looked relatively toy-like. It was also novel because the controllers were wired directly to the console – no swapping allowed. The system was a huge hit, selling more than 3 million units in Japan in the first 18 months it was on the market.

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People Who Make a Difference

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The question posed last time was: “Who is someone at Olin you appreciate a great deal, and why?”

I appreciate the people who go out of their way to smile at you every time they pass you between the dorms and the dining hall. There are a few of them around campus, and they always brighten my day. – Anonymous

Jean Huang. She has so many students under her wings at her lab, helps students get started in research, and shares with them the amazing world of microbes. She also shares this passion through the pickles and jams co-curricular, in which she and students make pickles, sauerkraut, kimchi, jams, butter and chocolate sauerkraut cake. Lastly, as busy as she is, she doesn’t let that keep her from smiling and laughing, and I want to be like her when I get older. – Anonymous

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Thank You from Frankly Speaking

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I would like to sincerely thank every single person who has made the 5th volume of Frankly Speaking such a success. As you all know, a newspaper cannot survive without inspired writers and a devoted staff, both of which I have been so grateful to have this year as editor in chief.

A big thank you to every person who contributed in any way to Frankly Speaking this year. No matter how small your contribution was, they sum to one of the most successful years the paper has seen in its short existence. Let’s keep the ball rolling!

I also owe a tremendous thanks to the Olin College IT department for letting us print for free each month.
Have a great summer, and don’t forget about Frankly Speaking when you feel like writing!

Mending a Broken Room Draw

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Ah, springtime! The melting of snow! The chirping of birds! The wonderful return of warmer weather and longer days! Spring break has come and passed, and now life has returned to how it’s meant to be! Stressful, chaotic, yet in many ways serene.

But what’s this?! Off in the distance! ‘Tis a storm brewing, threatening to engulf us all! It is the harbinger of broken promises, shattered friendships, and destroyed souls! Ah! We should have known this day was coming, as it does every year! This enigmatic force is known simply as “Room Draw”.

Although embellished, the scene I’ve described portrays Room Draw fairly accurately. Whenever the topic is brought up, it’s almost always accompanied by several sighs or “Ugh”s. It consistently appears as a returning source of malice, fear, hatred, and disappointment. Yet, this seems odd to me; aren’t we, as a school, supposed to acknowledge what needs changing and “do something”?

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Honor Board MadLibs

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Cases before the Honor Board are wide and varied. Topics range from personal differences and academic dishonesty to misuse of public materials. Above all, the Honor Board is a means for Olin Community members to work out their differences safely and confidentially. Find a friend and fill out the MadLibs in the paragraphs below to learn about a past case.

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