Lucy Casale

Unfortunately, this little mythological God of love doesn't give interviews. (He declined to have his picture taken too.) Something about it being "too dangerous" for us mortals to approach him - unless we wish to be rendered incurably lovestruck for the rest of our human lives.

His publicist did let slip that Cupid has a packed schedule this Valentine's Day up on the Hill. He allegedly spent most of Wednesday icing his shooting arm and ordering his posse of nymphs around. Mostly, he had them spoon-feed him Russell Stover chocolates (his favorite kind).

This accurate archer also apparently plans to make an appearance at the Grand on Friday for the post-Valentine's Day dance. So watch yourselves ladies...or maybe you'll be on the lookout for him. FYI, his favorite color is pink.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Left all your holiday shopping until the last minute? Of course you have! What with Christmasfest, end-of-semester tests and now finals coming up, the majority of Oles are booked - not booking it to the mall. Click on for smart suggestions (all under $30!) fitting for anyone on your list. I've got your profs, father, mother, brother, sister, grandparents, boyfriend and best-friend covered! Happy gifting! (Adorable gift tag below from Sugar Paper).

Life’s awkward years – better known as middle school – are recalled by many as a time preferably to be forgotten. As hormones rage and brace-faced bullies reign supreme, it’s hard for young girls to stay confident, or even look towards the future beyond a day’s pimple or boy-problem. “It’s a vulnerable time,” Paige Beenen ’13 says. “As friend groups change and everyone grows up in lots of ways, [middle school] can be a crossroads for lots of people. It always helps to have another person on your side.”

Beenen is helping middle school girls find those allies through her work as program director for the Nightingale Project. A long-standing student organization on campus, the Nightingale Project matches Northfield middle school girls with Ole women who will serve as their mentors throughout the year. The group’s main purpose according to their mission statement is to: “Make a difference in the lives of our mentees by being a friend, encourager, and role model.”

This week, Beenen and group members, or ‘Nightingales’ as they call themselves, are spending time tabling at the Northfield middle schools to recruit more girls. While Beenen says 137 Ole women expressed interest in being mentors this year, she says it is much harder to find interested middle school girls. “Middle schoolers aren’t as outgoing,” she said. “We have to hunt them down!” Still, Beenen adds, once they sign up, “All middle school girls are excited to do anything on campus with a college student.” Last year, the program boasted 20 mentor and mentee pairs.

For a day that has absolutely nothing to do with Lutefisk – the traditional Norwegian dish of cod soaked in lye – Lutefest and its pun on the fish always brings them to my mind.
 
In the spirit of fun and games that Lutefest is known for (though presenty it's most known for certain antics deemed fishy by the administration), what better way to celebrate the day than with a Fishtail braid? 
 
As a matter of fact, braids are in style right now. From runway shows to Pinterest boards to the big screen (check out the 'do on Katniss Everdeen, star of recent film The Hunger Games) it seems that everyone is talking about braids. And when it comes to the Fishtail, anything goes!