The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic announced in March that the national unemployment rate had increased to an average of 8.5 percent. Eastern Mennonite University boasted a 99% graduate placement rate between 2005 and 2007. With the economy working against graduates, will they be able to continue the positive trend? Many seniors find their futures uncertain.

The harmonious notes from The Federation, intriguing conversation about Gaza, the bittersweet words of healing from Take Back the Night, and the choruses of laughter are some of the symphony that have filled Common Grounds this past semester. Smoothies, milkshakes, coffee, and nightly events helped EMU’s coffeehouse evolve into a centralized campus location in the past five years. Within the past few weeks, the staff finally made finishing touches to their own solid foundation for Common Grounds by creating the coffee shop’s first values and mission statement.

As this school year comes to a close, many of us are making plans for the summer and reminiscing on past events. We are all grateful for the experiences of this year, but are ready for a different routine. However, by the end of summer, most of us are ready to change once more, back to the routine of school. While some things at EMU may not alter drastically, changes dealing with faculty will greatly influence the year ahead.

Aaron Martin, a junior Biochemistry major, and Daniel Martin, a junior Congregation and Youth Ministry major, have been playing baseball together for as long as they can remember.

What would you do if you found a dead man holding a ringing cell phone in a café?

I am a child of hippies, and I love my family reunions because of it. We hippies of all generations in my family gather together to use gender-neutral terms for God in our prayers and eat local healthy foods. I absolutely love it, and I plan to do my best for the rest of my life to live in such a manner. We cram into small houses and share cheap Christmas presents, sometimes homemade, instead of expensive extravagant gifts we do not need. I cannot emphasize how much I love hippies. I consider myself one.