Like past years, and like every year for the foreseeable future, the Boards voted to increase tuition at CSB/SJU.

The St. Ben’s Board of Trustees and the St. John’s Board of Regents approved the fiscal-year budgets for the 2009 academic year last Friday, which included a comprehensive fee increase of 7.7 percent at St. Ben’s and 7.4 percent at St. John’s.

The tuition for both schools will increase 8 percent for incoming students — an average tuition before financial aid of $36,600 for St. Ben’s students and $35,900 for St. John’s students. Returning students will pay 6.5 percent.

A few weeks ago, first-year Jack Ries was working at a women’s basketball tournament at Sexton Arena. When he returned to his room that night, his laptop was gone.

“We didn’t lock our door, so that was a big part of it,” Ries said. “I guess I was kind of surprised it happened. Maybe I had it coming for leaving my door unlocked, but at the same time it’s shocking.”

Bennies and Johnnies may have been surprised last Wednesday when, logging on to check their e-mail accounts, they noticed a new CSB/SJU homepage. The new design has sparked a variety of responses.

“I don’t like that you have to scroll down to get to Outlook,” said first-year Allison Rigelman.

“The pictures are stunning and the design seems so much cleaner. So from a purely aesthetic point of view, I really like it,” philosophy professor Tony Cunningham said in an e-mail.

Large scale construction appears to be in the near future for the St. John’s campus.

Decisions concerning space usage were made in the construction of the Flynntown Community Center. Approvals by the Board of Regents are also pending for more student apartments to be built for upperclassmen. Alcuin Library will also undergo a major expansion.

The Flynntown Community Center will be a student oriented, Assistant Dean of Students Mattie Hawley said.

Tensions mounted near the end of Monday’s meeting as senators debated a resolution condemning the Minnesota Legislature for overriding Gov. Pawlenty’s veto of a statewide gas tax increase on Feb. 25.

The resolution, introduced by Sen. David Goblirsch, called the tax “wholly avoidable” and said it “will only negatively affect students traveling within the state for internships and trips home.”

Despite the fact that several senators criticized the resolution’s very presence on the senate agenda, a motion to remove the resolution failed to pass.

Can you please find out where the fish go in the winter who usually reside in the coil pond near the main?

-Lauren Pehler

Over the winter, they are stored in the basement of the St. Ben’s Power Plant. They are kept in tanks “where they are well fed and well taken care of until spring,” Power Plant Supervisor Terry Loso said.

Loso estimates there are about 100 fish, big and small, young and old. They represent various species of goldfish.

No one is immune.

Men, women. Size zero, size 13. Teenagers, middle-aged adults.

Regardless of who you are, body image is an issue. You glance at your reflection in the mirror and your distorted interpretations skew what is really there, making you self-conscious or uncomfortable about your body.

Is it ever “good enough?”

“Br. Willie” is a nickname? He stopped for a minute, and then decided with a smile, “I think that’s the best one I got.”

His memory may be fading, but Br. Willie will never lose his sense of humor and passion for his faith.

Br. Jerome Borgerding, 92, or “Willie,” became a priest on July 11, 1937. Did he ever consider any other path? “President,” he joked with a chuckle.

Jack’s Mannequin, a side project of Something Corporate’s Andrew McMahon, will headline Pinestock 2008 — supposedly.

With a blend of prettypiano melodies, pulsing drums and meaningful lyrics, Jack’s Mannequin’s debutalbum “Everything in Transit” shows great crowd-pleasing potential. You can’t help but get the power pop melodies stuck in your head.

The album starts strong with the song “Holiday from Real” and keeps on going. The second track, “The Mixed Tape,” deserves the acclaim it receives as the first single off the record and Jack’s Mannequin’s most recognized track. The song’s building energy will have you singing along until the frenzied drum beat culminates into a crash of waves.

Dear Dustin,

I’ve got a huge crush on this one gorgeous Bennie. The only problem is, I’m not the only one who realizes that she is the most beautiful, fun and talented Bennie on campus. It seems like every other Tom, Dick and “D-bag” is after her. That, coupled with the fact that I’m so into her I always get tongue-tied when I try and talk to her, has made it difficult for me to show her how much I like her and want to take care of her. How can I stand out among this competition and be able to show my true intentions at the same time?

Blarneyboy