Alex Patow

Bernardo Vigil, A&E Editor
May 27, 2011
Filed under Student Life, Tremendous Twelve

Alex Patow is a true renaissance man. With indulgences ranging from creative, to the athletic, to the straight-up manly, Alex truly does a little bit of everything. Well, that’s not the exactly true; Alex Patow does a lot of everything. What most (theater kids) know Alex for, however, is his... Read more »

Donald Trump: good idea

Bernardo Vigil, A&E Editor
April 27, 2011
Filed under Opinions, The Soapbox

As soon as Donald Trump officially announces his presidential candidacy, I’m going to campaign for him.  Stuffing envelopes, making phone calls, knocking on doors, I’ll even tell them I’m fluent in Spanish so they can send me down Lake Street––I am going to do everything in my power to get... Read more »

Paying for test scores: bad idea

Bernardo Vigil, A&E Editor
April 7, 2011
Filed under Opinions, The Soapbox

I haven’t been paid for grades since 3rd grade. Part of this may be because I haven’t had grades worth paying for since the 3rd grade, but the point still stands: it’s a bad idea. It takes away the joy of learning and replaces it with an arbitrary goal that really has nothing to do with education. When... Read more »

Pentagon cover-ups: bad idea

Bernardo Vigil, A&E Editor
April 5, 2011
Filed under Opinions, The Soapbox

For anyone who doesn’t know, The Rolling Stone recently pulled a Wikileaks.  They obtained photos of American soldiers mutilating and playing with the corpses of Afghans they had killed––some of which, by the platoon’s own admittance, were killed for sport––and released them.  Photos included... Read more »

Turning Libya into Iraq: bad idea

Bernardo Vigil, A&E Editor
March 24, 2011
Filed under Opinions, The Soapbox

United States military involvement in the Middle East has never really been a bad idea. In theory, taking out Al Qaida in Afghanistan and deposing a brutal dictator in Iraq is all well and good, but––much like Soviet communism and trickle down economics––it fell apart in practice. Why we occupied... Read more »

English-only bill: bad idea

Bernardo Vigil, A&E Editor
March 7, 2011
Filed under Opinions, The Soapbox

In case you weren’t aware, this is our state motto: “L’Etoile du Nord.” Roughly translated from French, it means “The Northern Star.” Just keep that in mind, our state motto––the one that adorns our flag and state seal––is French. One of the first pieces of legislation proposed... Read more »

Libyan solidarity: good idea

Bernardo Vigil, A&E Editor
February 28, 2011
Filed under Opinions, The Soapbox

When it comes to struggles for democracy and human rights, solidarity is key, especially in today’s global culture. One of our current administration’s biggest failures in regards to the Egypt protests was a lack of verbal support. The Obama administration was slow and reserved when it came to... Read more »

Downtown casino: bad idea

Bernardo Vigil, A&E Editor
February 28, 2011
Filed under Opinions, The Soapbox

I’m not opposed to gambling. I’m opposed to old people monopolizing downtown, I’m opposed to taking away revenue from Native Americans (as if we haven’t already taken enough from them), and I’m opposed developers changing the state constitution so they an make some money; but, in principal,... Read more »

Fist pumpin’ like a chump

Bernardo Vigil, A&E Editor
February 24, 2011
Filed under Humor

It was the Crocs that made me the most uncomfortable. Yes, the tank-top and bleached booty shorts in December were disconcerting, but the Crocs did it for me. I had no idea who this girl was, or who had dressed her but––despite her best efforts to look sexy on the dance floor––I could only... Read more »

Dayton’s tax-hike: good idea

Bernardo Vigil, A&E Editor
February 16, 2011
Filed under Opinions, The Soapbox

The Super Bowl is awesome. It’s as American as white picket fences and apple pie. It’s competition at its finest and the NFL works well at making sure the same team doesn’t win every year. This is done by giving the Super Bowl winner last pick in the following year’s draft; also, every team... Read more »

Teachers pay freezes: bad idea

Bernardo Vigil, A&E Editor
February 15, 2011
Filed under Opinions, The Soapbox

If Republican legislatures stand up for states’ rights on the national level, logic would dictate that our state level Republicans would stand up for the autonomy of things like counties and school districts. It’s all about deregulation right? Well, while deregulation may be a bad idea when it... Read more »

Valentine’s Day: bad idea

Bernardo Vigil, A&E Editor
February 14, 2011
Filed under Opinions, The Soapbox

I’m a hypocrite. Tonight I will be taking my lady-friend out to a nice dinner that I actually had to make reservations for. I bought flowers. My clothes will not have holes in them. I washed my hair this morning. It’s going to be perfect. I hate Valentine’s Day and everything it stands for;... Read more »

Cars: bad idea

Bernardo Vigil, A&E Editor
February 11, 2011
Filed under Opinions, The Soapbox

My parents cut me of at -10°. That is when I stop riding my bike, -10°; and, if it weren’t for my parent’s I’d ride all year. Well, that’s not true, I’d probably still stop at -10°. Yes, it’s true that I like bikes. It’s true that I need the exercise. It’s true that winter riding... Read more »

Obamacare: good idea

Bernardo Vigil, A&E Editor
February 10, 2011
Filed under Opinions, The Soapbox

People don’t want to be taxed. That’s a fact. Our capitalistic American complex has instilled in each and everyone of us that our money is our money and that the government shouldn’t be redistributing the wealth. Especially for social programs that won’t be benefiting the highest tax bracket.... Read more »

High capacity magazines: bad idea

Bernardo Vigil, A&E Editor
February 10, 2011
Filed under Opinions, The Soapbox

I was sitting in my deer stand, decked out in camouflage and wrappers from gas station food: waiting for the perfect shot. Hours passed by. Nothing stirred in the woods. And then, all of a sudden, thirty deer came out of nowhere and I shot them all! Thank God for that hand gun with the high capacity... Read more »

Billy Bragg –– To Have and to Have Not

Bernardo Vigil
October 1, 2010
Filed under Featured Songs

Having just come off the first Minneapolis show in years, Billy Bragg has proven that he still has the performing chops that he did in the 80s. He proved this, however, by performing a bunch of old songs, the most notable of which is “To Have and to Have Not.” Basic 1980’s working class rock... Read more »

Enhanced security system installed

Bernardo Vigil
May 12, 2010
Filed under News

During the student's two-week spring break, security director Mary Andersen was overseeing the complete overhaul of Benilde-St. Margaret's security system. While the most visible signs of this change are the 20 plus new security cameras adorning the interior and exterior of the building, the security... Read more »

Minneapolis based Dessa transcends fellow hip-hop artists with “Code”

Bernardo Vigil
March 22, 2010
Filed under A&E, Music Reviews

In a day and age where overproduced, unimaginative, rap-pop seems to dominate the charts, Minneapolis hip-hop seems to have resisted the auto-tune trend. Seemingly becoming a breeding ground for artful producers and potent lyricists, Minneapolis has an underground reputation for being the home to the... Read more »

Jeff Bridges steals the show in “Crazy Heart”

Bernardo Vigil
March 2, 2010
Filed under A&E, a&e featured, Movie Reviews

First time director Thomas Cobb's film, "Crazy Heart," achieves little in terms of originality, plot, or even character. Most of us have seen movies about drunken old men giving their lives a complete 180 and starting anew. What we haven't seen, however, is a film that portrays the process with such... Read more »

Potter Phenomenon

Bernardo Vigil
March 1, 2010
Filed under Features

The most important pop-culture phenomenon since Shakespeare is Harry Potter. Period. No Arguments. No single media entity has had the cross-demographic appeal that Harry Potter has had; even The Beatles were hated by parents during the height of their popularity. That being said, the multi-national sensation... Read more »

All bout roller derby

Bernardo Vigil
February 24, 2010
Filed under A&E, Twin Cities Hot Spot

Roller derby should be every guy's favorite sport. Tight pants, roller skates, and full contact –– oh and all of the competitors are female. Boasting two independent leagues in the metro area (St. Paul's "Minnesota Roller Girls" that hold bouts at The Roy Wilkins and Minneapolis's "North Star Roller... Read more »

Valentine’s Day back in the day

Bernardo Vigil
February 5, 2010
Filed under Humor

I miss pre-school. The minimalistic homework, nap time, recess, teachers who aren't competing to see who can damage your fragile teenage psyche the most––all of these things make me feel nostalgic for simpler days. Most important of all, however, I miss pre-school Valentine's Day. Back then,... Read more »

Twin Cities’ Best – Coffee Shop

Bernardo Vigil
January 11, 2010
Filed under A&E, Restaurant Reviews, scene featured, Top Stories, Twin Cities Hot Spot

Whether it be to help get over a long, sleepless night of homework, to help make a person look more indie than they actually are or to help a genuine coffee lover’s quest for the perfect cup of joe, all coffee shops have their uses. The following coffee shops serve these purposes and more. Coffee... Read more »

Folk-punk reemerges with Andrew Jackson Jihad’s latest album

Bernardo Vigil
January 11, 2010
Filed under A&E, Music Reviews, Top Stories

Ever since Billy Bragg made it okay for punk rockers to carry acoustic guitars in the 80s, a small fringe of musicians have followed suit in blending roots music with traditional three-chord punk with varied amounts of success. In recent years however, underground interest in folk-punk has begun to... Read more »

COD MOD 2

Bernardo Vigil
December 7, 2009
Filed under Features, Student Life, Top Stories

Since the emergence of the video game in the early 70s, society's perception of the gamer has evolved from the timeless computer nerd complete with calculator watch and pocket protector, to basically every male above the age of ten and below the age of 35. Yes, today video gaming for hours on end has... Read more »

Rice’s Speech: inspiring, yet inconsistent

Bernardo Vigil
November 29, 2009
Filed under Opinions

This last Sunday, former Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Dr. Condoleeza Rice delivered a speech at Beth El Synagogue that concerned, among few other things, the current state of affairs in Iran, the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and justification for the war crimes that the administration... Read more »

More than just an egg

Bernardo Vigil
November 29, 2009
Filed under Humor

Ever since childhood, society has conditioned students to dread the oh-so cliché "baby project." Depending on the relative affluence of the imaginary schools that our high-school TV shows take place in, people grow up expecting to be forced to care for anything from and egg, to a flour sack, to an... Read more »

Diversity bus

Bernardo Vigil
November 25, 2009
Filed under Humor

No, PRO does not have early morning field trips and no, none of DeLaSalle's buses make pit stops at Benilde St. Margaret's in the morning. The short bus that pulls up around five minutes late every day is not the temporary home to the Harlem Globetrotters. That traveling Festival of Nations is Benilde-St.... Read more »

Around the world in 80 stops

Bernardo Vigil
October 28, 2009
Filed under Humor

No, PRO does not have early morning field trips and no, none of DeLaSalle's buses make pit stops at Benilde St. Margaret's in the morning. The short bus that pulls up around five minutes late every day is not the temporary home to the Harlem Globetrotters. That traveling Festival of Nations is Benilde-St.... Read more »

Big D and the Kids Table create a new form of musical style on their latest album, “Fluent in Stroll”

Bernardo Vigil
October 27, 2009
Filed under A&E, Music Reviews

Ever since ska music fell from the radio waves in the late nineties, once-great bands began dropping their horn sections and focusing more on the punk side of punk-ska, often with disastrous results (just listen to Less than Jake's 2006 album "In With the Out Crowd"). However, starting with Big D... Read more »

The Hard Times Café easy on the tastebuds

Bernardo Vigil
September 30, 2009
Filed under Restaurant Reviews

Located a stones throw away from the U's west bank campus just off of the intersection of Cedar and Riverside Ave. in Minneapolis, The Hard Times Cafe is an all-vegetarian, punk-rock, co-op run (all of the employees are co-owners and they make all decisions by consensus) restaurant and cafe, locally... Read more »