Educating Montana’s Sons and Daughters
Photo by Kate Juedes, MSU Exponent
By Brent Zundel
For the MSU Exponent
April 25, 2013
He just deferred a position with Teach For America (TFA) to accept an English teaching position in Germany with the Fulbright Program. His new fiancé is going to Germany with him — on a Fulbright of her own. They both graduated with high honors from the University of Montana in fall 2012.
By all accounts, Paul Asleson and Alice Krebill are exactly the type of people our state needs: intelligent, driven, successful and passionate about educating future generations. Read More…
MSU Confessions: Internet Hate Machine or Community Forum?
The MSU Confessions Facebook page. Photo by Brent Zundel
By Pat Hessman and Brent Zundel
For the MSU Exponent
April 18, 2013
“Gotta love being a little drunk in class. So much more willing to answer questions.”
“I don’t get it, all these girls are like I just want a cowboy, but when I ride the electronic horse in the Walmart for an hour none of them come and hit on me.”
“i wish i knew anyone else my age here at MSU who has cancer too, it’s often really lonely having no one to relate to when you’re hurting.”
That was a sampling of posts on the Facebook page Montana State University Confessions (MSUC.) Read More…
A Beer Drinker’s Manifesto
Author Brent Zundel
By Brent Zundel
For the MSU Exponent
April 18, 2013
An old aphorism claims beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. And when one adds to Montana’s world-class beer offerings the breathtaking diversity of our landscape, from the eastern prairies to the western mountains, one could be forgiven for believing that Providence has especially favored our state.
If the state legislature maintains its sometimes wavering support of our homegrown microbreweries, Montana will be well on its way to establishing itself as the Napa Valley of beer within a few short years. Boasting the second most breweries per capita in the nation, we already have 38 breweries — with nearly 10 more in the works — that are adding value to the agricultural products that comprise the backbone of the state’s industry. Read More…
Montana GOP Outlines Strategy during Weeklong Retreat in Mordor
By Brent Zundel and Pat Hessman
For the MSU Exponent
April 11, 2013
Note: This column originally appeared as part of the Exponent’s Sugarbeet page, a satirical biweekly feature that attempts to stimulate discussion of critical community issues.
Members of the Montana GOP outline their strategy during a recent weeklong retreat in Mordor. Illustration by Pat Hessman, MSU Exponent
The Dark Lord Sauron’s index finger was conspicuously bare as he stabbed at a Billings Gazette article about Gov. Steve Bullock’s plan to fight dark money in Montana politics.
“What do we need to do to better spread our cold grip across the state?” he bellowed as the savage roar of Republican legislators rose all around him. His thunderous words were well-received, with those in attendance firing assault rifles into the air, beating their foreheads with Bibles and knocking back shot after shot of Roughstock Montana Whiskey.
Speaking from behind the Black Gate, the Dark Lord led Republican legislators during their annual strategy retreat in Mordor. Throughout the weeklong event, Republicans from across the state looked at ways to move their party forward into the 19th century, from resisting any federal attempts to enforce gun control to fighting for lower taxes. Read More…
The Case for Ending Coal
A coal mine in the Powder River Basin. Photo courtesty itsgettinghotinhere.org
By Brent Zundel
For the MSU Exponent
April 11, 2013
For generations, American Indians considered the arid rolling hills in the Powder River Basin sacred. From time to time, the ground would naturally catch fire, spewing smoke into the air.
The ground itself didn’t really catch fire, of course; rather, the coal locked up in it did. Today, that land is still sacred, though to a vastly different demographic. Read More…
Wine Not: Que Syrah, Syrah
Author Brent Zundel
By Brent Zundel
For the MSU Exponent
April 4, 2013
This week, leave your beer mug on the shelf and dust off your long-stemmed glasses for a toast to Dionysus. We’re talking wine.
Wine production, or vinification, dates back to at least 6,000 BC, although different regions developed it at different times. While Montanans are becoming more and more familiar with craft beer, any wine fancier than Franzia still intimidates many college students. Read More…
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Mountain Solitaire Author Brent Zundel
MOUNTAIN SOLITAIRE 