Our fourth and final issue this year, titled “Where are we headed next?” is now distributed on both East and West campuses. In this issue, we focused on current events and the ambiguity of the present political moment. Pick up a copy in the BC, Perkins, Allen, Lilly, or Marketplace today!

by Trent Serwetz
APRIL 8 – Congressional leaders have only hours remaining to pass a new budget or face an impending government shutdown. With this swollen leverage, Republicans have the President’s party by the proverbial chestnuts. Facing the crisis of a government shutdown, Congress has a singular opportunity to restore the conservative dream of American “sanity,” passing the most comprehensive budget cuts in recent history.
So what do they do with all this power? Undermining the overriding goal of limiting government spending as much as possible, Republicans instead consent to a virtually …

Our third issue of The Gothic Guardian has been distributed on East and West Campus! Our theme for this issue was “Same Old Problems,” focusing on some of the most intransigent social and political issues we’ve noticed. The issue is also available online here.

by Trent Serwetz
At Duke, every year nearer to matriculation carries with it distinct lessons about how, where, and when to park.
Freshman year enables students to park practically on their doorsteps in the Red Zone. At least, until the lot is inexplicably full and you need to park on the other side of East Campus or face a hefty parking fine. As a sophomore, the question becomes not whether there is parking to be found but rather how many acres of Blue Zone the student must navigate to make it back …

Our second issue of The Gothic Guardian has been distributed on West Campus, in Trent Building, and on East. Pick up a copy when the weather allows! Thanks again to everyone that contributed. Our theme for this issue was “America Back On Track,” highlighting our hope for a strong year in conservative politics. The issue is also available online here.

By Trent Serwetz
The latest nationwide hullabaloo over the alcoholic drink “Four Loko” provides a poignant reminder of how quick America is to point the finger. Four Loko, for those who are unfamiliar with the beverage, is a 12% ABV drink sold in 23.5 ounce cans which also packs a hefty dose of caffeine. It’s like super-concentrated Smirnoff Ice mixed with Red Bull. The drink is sold at grocery stores and 7-11’s and comes in a variety of fruity flavors.
Last week, New York called for a voluntary ban on Four Loko …

By Trent Serwetz
Edit: As of 12/18/2010, both the House and the Senate have officially voted to repeal the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Congratulations to the LGBT community on this resounding victory!
The U.S. military’s longstanding ban on gay servicemen (and women) is over — for the moment. On Sep. 9, U.S. District Court Justice Virginia Phillips called for a “permanent injunction” barring the enforcement of the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) policy.[i]
DADT, crafted by the Clinton Administration in 1993, is the most lenient treatment of homosexuality in the military …

In an effort to generate cross-campus dialogue on political issues, The Gothic Guardian has joined with other college publications to form the Alliance of Collegiate Editors (ACE). This week we interviewed 1960s political organizer Mark Rudd, most well known for his involvement with the Weather Underground.
The Gothic Guardian at Duke University
1. Your participation in the Weather Underground came during a time of diverse movement politics and a certain brand of kick-ass liberals. Today, movement politics seem to have disappeared at the same time that liberalism is becoming increasingly tied to …

The Gothic Guardian was featured in a recent story about alternative student publications in North Carolina. Read about us here, in the story written by Duke Cheston of the Pope Center for Higher Education Policy.

Our first issue of The Gothic Guardian has been distributed on East and West Campus, as well as in the Trent building. Pick up a copy today if you’d like to see our staff’s work, and thanks again to everyone that contributed! Our theme for this issue was “No Change,” highlighting failures of the Obama administration and our optimism for Election Day 2010. The issue is also available online here.