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Xavier McKenzie

Xavier is a sophomore at Augustana University majoring in journalism, Spanish and international studies. He currently serves as variety co-editor.

Bigger band, bigger sound

Bigger band, bigger sound

Alexis Lawrence was the only trombone player in Augustana's marching band when she was a freshman. This fall, she has seven other trombonists marching beside her. Five years after the university officially restarted the program, the Augustana Marching Band has 106 members, the largest it has ever been.

CWS hires Lauck as executive director

CWS hires Lauck as executive director

The Center for Western Studies (CWS) welcomed a new executive director on Aug. 20: Midwest historian and author Jon Lauck. For the first 61 years of its existence, the CWS only had three official directors: founder Herbert Krause, Arthur R. Huseboe and the recently retired Harry Thompson. A Midwest native,

Wastewater floods Granskou dayrooms

Wastewater floods Granskou dayrooms

More than a month after Granskou Hall's dayrooms flooded with wastewater, the university still hasn’t told students what happened — or when the spaces will reopen. With the exception of the seventh floor, all dayrooms in the building are closed off from student use. According to Whitney Jibben,

Duffy-Matzner named ACS Fellow

Duffy-Matzner named ACS Fellow

When professor of chemistry Jetty Duffy-Matzner received an email that her nomination to the American Chemical Society (ACS) was accepted, she thought it was a mistake. Three years earlier, former student Matthew Grandbois asked her if she was a fellow. He was shocked to learn she was not, and

AugieCon expands across departments with pop culture focus

AugieCon expands across departments with pop culture focus

For the past four years, Assistant Professor of English Emily Roehl has hosted AugieCon to celebrate all things comics and pop culture, featuring student presentations, dioramas, cosplays and more. Students presenting in the past have all been enrolled in Roehl’s Literary Experience: Comics and Graphic Narratives. This year, however

Thompson retiring after 42 years

Thompson retiring after 42 years

The 250th anniversary of the United States is serving as a time of reflection for many, including Harry Thompson, the executive director for the Center for Western Studies (CWS). Thompson, who led the charge for America 250 at the CWS, has decided that he will retire on July 31 after

Nyawanda, Dzenga win first contested presidential election in 5 years

Nyawanda, Dzenga win first contested presidential election in 5 years

On April 13, sophomore Igen Nyawanda and freshman Regis Dzenga defeated juniors Ellie Pulse and Mariam Alinizi in the Augustana Student Association’s (ASA) first contested presidential election in five years. Over the course of four days, 574 students voted in the elections, only two of which were contested: the