Celebrities turning into politicians is a familiar concept to the American public. The most notable example for many is former reality TV star turned president, Donald Trump, President Ronald Reagan, and in Minnesota specifically, former Gov. Jesse Ventura and former Sen. Al Franken. 

This is not new, or necessarily always a problem. The problem comes when this happens in reverse: When politicians turn into celebrities. 

It has become normal to see mainstream politicians at the forefront of American pop culture, especially in memes, sitcoms and Saturday Night Live skits. We often see our representatives spotlighted in ways that do not equate to their roles as leaders and change-makers. 

In 2023, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez appeared at the Met Gala wearing a dress that read “Tax the Rich,” making a statement about disproportionate taxation in America.

This message is important, but where is the line between messaging and the glamorization of politicians? We elected them to work for us, not to gain status through statement-making. 

Armelle Boukadida, a third-year student at the University of Minnesota, said because the lines are so often blurred between politicians and celebrities, it can be hard to determine their true intentions. 

“I think it depends on a situation, and I think it also depends on people’s intent, which you can only really guess,” Boukadida said. “Politicians using their attention to get into places like the Met Gala, there is always going to be a human nature of just wanting to be invited or just wanting to be there. I think it is a little for their own benefit, but I also understand the aspects of using it as a point of advocacy.”

As Boukadida said, when politicians emerge in traditional celebrity-dominated spaces, it is difficult to decide whether they are using their public platform to promote awareness or to promote themselves. 

Some of the time, it might be both. 

Many politicians and legislators have strong bases for their stances and the communities they represent. Our votes and opinions put them in office, so we naturally have strong personal connections with them. 

However, these connections can become judgment clouders for their current political actions. It allows us to prioritize their personalities over their policies, usually to their benefit. 

In the digital era, this has become even more exacerbated. Instead of only seeing them in person or on television, we can feel like we are connecting with politicians anytime we go on our phones. 

Bemnet Tessema, a third-year political science student, said while idolization of political figures is a problem, it can be hard to find a balance in the age of social media and celebrity culture. 

“I think it can get warped,” Tessema said. “Everyone has their own personal opinions on a politician as well that shouldn’t reflect their political views.”

Tessema acknowledged that social media is an essential resource in 21st-century politics, but said professional and personal accounts should be separated to maintain boundaries with political figures. 

“Social media is the first place that people go to find their information, so it’s very easy for politicians to be able to just have a single post that shares what they support,” Tessema said.  “Some politicians do have personal accounts and official accounts though, and it’s important to notice.”

Timberlyn Mazeikis is a fourth-year student and the founder of the University’s Students Demand Action chapter, a subdivision of the national gun violence prevention organization, Everytown for Gun Safety. In this role, she often meets with different legislators, both locally and nationally.

These meetings have given Mazeikis insight into how the images many of them present publicly differ from the actions they actually take. 

“One general thing that I’ve kind of taken from talking with legislators is no matter what they say to your face or post online, that doesn’t mean that’s actually what they’re going to do,” Mazeikis said. “It’s hard because politicians are made to say one thing behind closed doors (but) do something else outside. They want to keep that positive public image.”

Mazeikis agreed many political figures use social media to gain a following and showcase themselves in the best light but said it can also be an important tool to hold them at their word. 

“You can use social media to tag your politicians and remind them of what they have promised you and what they are there to do,” Mazeikis said. “You are their constituent, they are legally obligated to listen to their constituents.” 

As Mazeikis said, politicians are there to do a job, not to become a popular public persona. We cannot let empty promises dissuade us from this reality. 

No legislator should have fans, even if you really, really like them. 

If you are a fan of a certain actor, you can excuse or justify their poor performance in a recent feature film. Excusing a poor policy decision by a politician you are a fan of cannot be justified in the same way.  

We voted for them and we pay their bills with our taxes. We should not view them as our idols, but instead as people who work for us. With this, we need to learn to be objectively critical of their policies. 

Having this discernment is essential to holding politicians accountable. Our support should be based on where we have seen meaningful change, not who we find admirable or relatable.

As far as government institutions go, libraries may be the least offensive. 

Libraries provide free books, information, internet access, and shared space to question, learn or simply exist. Public libraries are the epitome of a public good. They are non-excludable, free, non-rivalrous and many people can use a library at once. 

The only scarcity within a library is all copies of a popular book being checked out. 

Perhaps it is the only place left in which class is not a factor. Libraries make the world more fair. They are a place where curiosity is celebrated and profit is not a concern.

Brandi Van Dinter, a high school English teacher and former library student worker, spoke about how important libraries are for students and young people alike. 

“I think for a lot of kids, their after-school program is just going to the library,” Van Dinter said. “They offer space for people and space for kids to just be kids and do pure things that don’t cost money.” 

Van Dinter said libraries provide an essential right to all of their patrons. 

“I’m a firm believer that people should have access to information, whatever way, shape or form that is, and that is what a library is meant for,” Van Dinter said. 

As Van Dinter mentioned, public libraries often fill in the gaps by providing information and literature to all people, regardless of zip code or income bracket. 

At the University of Minnesota, some libraries work to meet student and community needs. 

University Librarian and Dean of Libraries Lisa German said one of the core principles of University libraries is accessibility. 

“Whether that’s through discovery, making connections between people and other people or resources and people, libraries are all about access,” German said. “Access to learning, access to material, access to programs, access to services, that’s really what we’re guided by, in a very inclusive and as equitable way as possible.” 

This accessibility is not just for University students either. University libraries are available to all community members.

“Anyone can borrow material from our libraries. Anyone can come to our libraries,” German said. “You don’t have to be a student. We get community borrowers all the time. You can come in, you can use our electronic resources, we take that very seriously. We borrow and lend a lot of material across the state of Minnesota.”

A few blocks off campus is another public library — the Arvonne Fraser Library in Dinkytown. 

Emma Bengston, a third-year University student who often uses the Arvonne Fraser Library to study, spoke about how important she sees the library for her local community. 

“It has free parking, free printing, community days, board game nights,” Bengtson said. “It’s just such a good thing to have in the community.” 

Bengston added the Arvonne Fraser Library is a place where she believes anyone can be accepted. 

“It’s such a judgment-free zone,” Bengston said. “Free period products, gender-neutral restrooms. It’s just so accessible for everyone.”

Apart from the atmosphere it provides, the Arvonne Fraser Library hosts several different events for patrons from all demographics. This summer, they are set to host a Medicare counseling session for seniors, a llama meet and greet for young children and a letter-writing social hour. 

The Arvonne Fraser Library is one of 41 libraries in the Hennepin County system. Earlier this year, the Minneapolis Central Library made headlines, the New Yorker being one, for the services they provided across the community. 

During opening hours, the Minneapolis Central Library allows patrons to sleep inside, offering a warm location for many unhoused people. Beyond that, they have provided socks and drop-in hours with a social worker. 

Just across the Mississippi, Saint Paul Public Libraries also offer services beyond books for a slew of different needs including video call kits, vinyls and borrowable Minnesota state park passes. 

Rebecca Ryan, the deputy director for public services for Saint Paul Public Libraries, said aside from tangible services, Saint Paul libraries provide an important alternative space for people.

“All our buildings are public spaces,” Ryan said. “So besides coming to the library for books, we have many folks that come to the library because they need that third space that’s not their home or work that they don’t have to pay for. So I think a large part of our function in the city is to be that free public space for people. We say a lot of people are coming to the library to do their life.” 

Outside of the Twin Cities, libraries have proven to be cornerstones of communities nationwide. 

In Washington, D.C., several public libraries have been designated as “cooling centers” — places where people can stay safe from summer heat waves. In Midland, Texas, local libraries are providing free lunches to children and teenagers during the summer.

In New York City, fiscal budget cuts and reallocations last November led to several city libraries only being able to open six days a week, excluding Sundays, compared to the previous seven. This caused widespread public outcry, and as a result, the city council passed a new budget last week that restores library funding and is expected to allow New York City public libraries to reopen on Sundays. 

Although it is something many of us may take for granted, libraries stand for so much more than we realize. Not only for what they provide but for what they represent. They represent the idea that free and open information is a human right, and all members of the community are allowed to take up space.

So support your local library. Get a library card, and if libraries come up on ballots this November, vote in their favor.

I love reality television. From “The Amazing Race” to “The Kardashians,” I watch it all, and I love following my favorite personalities outside of their respective shows. 

Often, when I tell other people this, they write it off as simply a guilty pleasure. Now, do not get me wrong, there are plenty of times I have found myself vegging out on the couch for hours as episode after episode of “Love Island” plays in the background. These certainly are not my proudest moments, but being fascinated with reality television is not something I feel guilty about. 

As a human being, I find myself being the most interested in the lives of other people. Call it nosy if you must, but I do not think I am alone in this. 

How people react in various situations is inherently fascinating to me, especially with scenarios I would never find myself in. With reality television, we get to see this on a macro level. 

The series “Survivor” shows us how people might respond when stripped of all their basic resources. “Love Is Blind” looks at an alternate reality where physical attraction is not a factor in dating. “Real Housewives of New Jersey” lets us see how rich people in New Jersey live. None of these are likely things I will experience myself. 

For Aya Ali, a third-year global studies student at the University of Minnesota, reality television has also given her insight into lifestyles she is unfamiliar with. 

“As I grew up, it was an interesting way to see how other people who live completely different lives than me live,” Ali said. “It’s really focusing on a society I literally am not a part of. It’s a completely different world from my own.”

Ali also said reality television can give us a window into the social norms of the past. 

“I think it’s really cool seeing how we’ve lived a society, or what we’ve decided was important then,” Ali said. “Even shows from 2015, it’s like a time capsule of that era. Whether it’s how they act or what was socially acceptable to say or even their clothing and makeup.” 

Jesus Gil-Leon, a fourth-year psychology student, said reality television was something that became appealing during a time when human interaction was lacking elsewhere. 

“I got into it during COVID,” Gil-Leon said. “I just picked a random reality show. I think because there really wasn’t a bunch of socialization outside my phone, it made it a lot more interesting.” 

Although reality television could never be a substitute for human connection, I often find myself being more inclined to tune in to the complex personalities it has to offer. The heroes are not all good, and the villains are not all bad either. Many times, they are just ordinary, imperfect people and sometimes we can not comfortably root for any of the characters on screen, which makes it all the more entertaining. 

However, I am more than aware of how scripted and manufactured reality television can be. All of it must be consumed with several grains of salt. But enjoying reality television and being weary of the truths behind it does not have to be mutually exclusive. 

Whether the shows are scripted or not, reality television still follows along with real people. Not only do we get to follow the storylines within the show, but these stories continue, long after season finales. 

Madelyn DeBruin, a third-year sociology student, said the real people are the best part about it. 

“I think for people, it’s more entertaining because even when ‘characters’ leave the shows, they can still follow along with them,” DeBruin said. “That’s part of the appeal, being able to follow along with real people.” 

Like it or not, reality television has wormed its way into our cultural zeitgeist. Many reality television personalities are household names and there are Emmy award categories for the genre. We even had a president who was a former reality television star. 

I don’t think anyone is saying reality television is a profound lens into the psychology of mankind. But perhaps there is still meaning to be found. We should not have to feel guilty being entertained by it. 

After all, it is only human.

As soon as we get the first snowfall on campus, I can count on taking a tumble. Or several. 

It happens every year when November rolls around. We start getting snow, it freezes over and I start slipping. 

On the University of Minnesota campus, winter is not for the weak. The cold weather and rampant snow often cause sidewalks and paths around campus to become covered in ice, which creates treacherous conditions walking to and from class and makes it easy to slip and fall. Admittedly, I can be quite clumsy and may wipe out more than most, but from what I have seen, I know there are others. 

Although he has only spent one winter at the University, Nate Galush, a first-year student, said quite a few wipeouts still happen. 

“I’ve definitely seen a couple people have pretty bad falls,” Galush said. “A lot on Pleasant Street and around the Nicholson Hall area in particular.” 

So, it isn’t just me. And it seems like this isn’t a new issue either.  

In December 2013, Josephine Hohlt, a painter employed by the University, was injured by slipping and falling on ice on campus. She later sued the University. 

Hohlt was walking on Delaware Street toward the Oak Street Parking Ramp when she slipped and sustained a right hip fracture. After a lengthy medical process, Hohlt returned to work about a year later in December 2014. The University initially denied liability for the incident, but Hohlt appealed and eventually won her case in the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2017. 

Since the settlement, the University has continued to be called upon to do more about its winter campus conditions. 

In 2023, the Undergraduate Student Government passed a resolution advocating for the City of Minneapolis to fund a larger sidewalk snow removal project. The resolution was later approved by the Minneapolis City Council and passed along to the Public Works Department.

With all of this, has anything really changed? 

Taava Johnson, a third-year student, said the campus walkways can be hit or miss. 

“It’s extremely variable,” Johnson said. “There are days where it’s completely clear, and then there’s other days where it’s straight up, like four inches of snow.” 

Johnson also rides a bike on campus and shared some concerns about how bike lanes are cleared.

“Where I really feel nervous is biking on the bridge,” Johnson said. “During the winter, they usually move it down to around one (bike) lane. And that kind of can be a little freaky because the lane is the one that’s closest to the water. And when it’s windy, you kind of feel like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna fall off this icy bridge into the river.’”

Despite this, Johnson said there is only so much that can be done to solve the snow and ice problem. 

“They do salt, but salt can only go so far in the winter,” Johnson said. “When it’s super cold out, like, in the negatives, it doesn’t really do much on the metal areas, compared to the concrete areas.”

For Isabel Newhouse, a third-year civil engineering student, the biggest issues with snow and ice on campus are the light rail stations.

“It gets really bad by the light rail, that area is so slippery,” Newhouse said. “I just feel like it’s so dangerous over there, it gets really slushy, and especially with the metal on the ground.” 

These campus concerns bring about an accessibility issue as well. Is our campus truly safe and accessible for everybody in all seasons? 

Although an able-bodied person, Newhouse shared this concern. 

“I’m just thinking about the traction that the wheels of a wheelchair have,” Newhouse said. “I feel like if I struggle to walk up slight inclines in the winter with the ice, I can only imagine how much harder it is in a wheelchair.” 

Despite student concerns, I would be remiss to say that the University is not doing anything at all to address the walkway issue. It may be summer now, but winter in Minnesota is never going away. It is not enough to have safe sidewalks some days and not others. 

Ice on campus is an issue that needs to be taken more seriously, not only as a safety issue but also as an accessibility and equity gap.

Getting assigned a random roommate was the best thing that happened to me freshman year. This may sound like an extreme statement, but bear with me. 

Coming to college, my biggest stressor was finding a roommate. The University of Minnesota housing offers two main options for roommate selection: you can either fill out a form with your interests and living preferences for a University match, or you and someone else can add each other to your housing forms to be paired together. 

I was desperate to find someone to add. 

I asked around to high school friends and direct-messaged people I found on incoming freshman Facebook and Instagram pages, but ultimately nothing stuck. Maybe due to my lack of follow-through, finding a roommate proved too time-consuming. 

So I hit submit on my form with an empty roommate box and hoped for the best. 

In the summer, we got our roommate assignments and contact information. My roommate and I started sharing a few awkward texts, so my stress continued. Would we talk to each other? Would I be walking on eggshells the whole year? Did we even have anything in common? 

When fall rolled around, I was proven wrong in almost every way. I was correct. We didn’t have much in common — different interests, different hobbies and different music tastes. I quickly learned, however, that this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. 

We both seemed to enter the living situation open to meeting someone new and by the end of September, we were almost inseparable. I not only made a new friend, I made friends with someone I probably wouldn’t have otherwise. 

Now, I recognize my experience isn’t the reality for everyone, but there can be other positives to living with someone you don’t have an established relationship with. 

For Emily Roe, a third-year University student, her random roommate allowed her to have balance in her social life while removing the pressure of needing to be best friends. 

“I knew she had friends and I knew I was also making my own, so I didn’t feel too stressed or pressured about always hanging out,” Roe said. “But we could also come back to the room and debrief about everything we had going on separately because she was detached from my friend group. So that was good.”

Roe’s roommate, Charlotte Perron, shared a similar sentiment. 

“I came to the University with a lot of friends from high school, and we would hang out all the time,” Perron said. “It was nice to be able to have somebody new in my room, and an escape from other people if I needed it.”

For some students, living in the location you want can outweigh the comfort of living with somebody you already know. Margaret Xiao, a third-year student, opted to be matched with a random roommate her sophomore year in an off-campus apartment. 

“I ended up going random because I just kind of prioritized the proximity to my classes, rather than trying to live with one of my friends,” Xiao said. 

In addition to getting to live in an ideal location by campus, having a random roommate allowed Xiao to focus on other goals she had. 

“It was kind of like a trade-off,” Xiao said. “Because I didn’t really have as close of a relationship with my roommate, I didn’t end up being as involved socially, and then my academics improved.”

As I said, having a random roommate was the highlight of my freshman year. I lucked out and still consider her one of my closest friends. As I’ve learned, sometimes the ideas we have in our minds about the types of people we get along with can be limiting. But even if you and your random roommate aren’t attached at the hip, it can still be a rewarding experience. 

For any incoming students or even those looking for a roommate in the future, give serendipity a chance. It’s not often we are introduced to someone completely outside of our circles. 

Maybe you’ll make a new friend or maybe you won’t. Ultimately, there are a lot more positives to living with someone random than you may think.