Deckhead:

Cosmology on the Rocks

Body:

I never thought it would happen to me. Not in my wildest dreams. I thought she and I would be together forever; I thought she would always be my boo; I thought we would grow old and gray, get all our organs replaced, get cynical and walk really slowly … together. I thought we would have endless nights of passion and baby-making. Like a flower leaning toward the sun, I turned to her.

Deckhead:

WTF, Mate?!

Body:

In October during my senior year of high school, during the panicked chaos that is the college application process, I was driving home from one of many overachiever meetings. Applications were due in a few weeks, we still needed funding for the literary magazine, apparently I was supposed to take the SATs … my sleep deprived, stressful future loomed in front of me with no escape plan. Suddenly, I had an epiphany and stopped, almost causing a five-car pileup. “Mom,” I said on my cell phone, ignoring the honking cars, “I can’t go to school next year. I don’t care what I do, but I have to take the year off.”

Deckhead:

Between the Lines

Body:

The separation of church and state is a fundamental principle of American government, but its meaning is often murky. Several friends of mine have commented that they consider it wrong for laws to be based on religious beliefs: In their eyes, those who advocate laws on such a basis are fanatics. This is not a helpful way to view the issue, and betrays a certain misunderstanding of religion, and the religious approach to life. Thoughtless and dogmatic views of any sort are a problem; religion as such is not.

Body:

Despise them, mock them, worship them — there is no denying that fraternities and sororities are deeply entrenched fixtures of American universities. For many across the country, the process of joining these organizations — pledging — is often viewed as a time when teamwork, character and long-lasting friendships are cultivated.