A Blog on McConnell Center Life

Celia Cusick Class of 2020 I come from a long line of strong women– women who are inherently passionate and empathetic to no end. Surrounded by these women, I learned the invaluable lesson of how to make things work, whether it be a substitution in a recipe or juggling the demands of life. These are the roots I am proud to call mine. Knowing my background has given me ground to stand on while figuring out who I am and who I hope to be. In lieu of creating New Year's resolutions, I choose a word that I want to be my guiding principle for that upcoming year. This year, my word was inspired by the women in my life who stand as a reminder to be unapologetic .   After reflection over the past year, I realized that for a long time, I have felt the need to justify my decisions and my interests. My actions and words seemed to indicate that I felt as if I owed others an explanation for who I am and what I believe. By looking to the women in my life, however, I discovered what...

An Open Letter to the NCAA Garrett Kasey Feb. 22, 2018 Dear NCAA, Garrett Kasey Class of 2020             This week, your actions sent a shock throughout the entire Louisville community. As a fan and student, I am appalled by your decision to remove wins from the record of the University’s men’s basketball team, including the 2013 National Championship. There are many reasons that this decision is unfair to our community, and your decision only serves to prove that your rulings are inconsistent from case to case. I acknowledge that the actions of multiple members of the University’s men’s basketball program were wrong, but your punishment does not affect them. This penance will be unwillingly paid by the entire Louisville community.             Let’s begin with the terrible inconsistency when it comes to handing down punishment to schools who violate NCAA ru...

Evan Clark Class of 2020 “Don’t talk about politics and religion,” so the saying goes.   This advice no doubt appeals to countless Americans who fear the consequences of revealing their political viewpoints to family members, friends, and co-workers who might disagree with them.   Amid the rancorous partisan atmosphere in the United States today, it has become increasingly difficult for many Americans to engage in open, respectful political dialogue with those whom they disagree.   This difficulty does not arise from voter apathy.   Although there are some in our country who could care less about their civic responsibilities, a great number of the citizens of our country continue to care about the state of American politics.   For instance, last year I came across a news article about a recent study which found Americans feel more stressed about the state of the country than about any other issue.   Clearly, Americans recognize the importance of the po...

Georgiana Sook Class of 2019 Recently, I've been reading C.S. Lewis's book The Four Loves. In it, he talks about the love involved in true friendship, and I have so deeply appreciated the accuracy with which he describes it. I have long considered friendship one of the dearest gifts I've been given in this life-- something I value above freedom, health, and prosperity. Lewis quotes Emerson when he says friends are those who "see and care about the same truth" that we do. I currently live with two of my dearest friends, one of which I have known for more than 15 years. The following is an amalgamation of words I threaded together for her birthday a few months ago. May it be a testament to gratitude and appreciation that saturates my heart. When it comes to friendship, I have been given much more than I will ever be able to match.   “Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art…. It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give...

Colton Stinger Class of 2019 To have a heart of stone is not to be heartless. And what some deem a curse is God's way to bless. For the hardest of hearts are forged by hellfire and brimstone, And it is from these fires that God's light is shown. Yet you would conceal it and leave it to burn, But your unhardened heart will secretly yearn To feel its warmth and to know its fire. For indeed, that is your deepest desire. Yet you let it pass by, holding back your admission That you secretly use it to achieve your ambition. You, the soft-hearted, are too weak for war, Too timid and sheepish to resist anymore, The cruel and cold-hearted, the monsters of men. You were lost; you were found. Now you're lost once again. You were drawn to their strength, down a cold icy path and hastened to feel the blunt of God's wrath. And though you were warned you still could not see, Nor could you hear the stone-hearteds’ plea. That fire tempered ...

Sidney Cobb Class of 2019 Last semester, in my art class we discussed why art was important. We concluded that art and creativity were a big part of find joy and inspiration in our lives. When taking this class, I was struggling to find meaning and happiness in my life. I had become so tied up in school work and résumé building that I no longer stopped to enjoy what I loved. In the class, we created this list of all the people and things that inspire us and I use it as a reminder whenever I get down, as you read this, I challenge you to make your own list and read it when you are feeling uninspired. Someone who has influenced your life in many ways. You don't have to know this person, nor does it matter if the person you name is real or fictional. They should be someone who can really turn your mood around My mom, Elizabeth Bennett A hero or heroine - someone whose work and approach to life you really admire. It can be someone o...