The Student News Site of Northern Michigan University

The North Wind

The North Wind

The North Wind

Meet the Staff
Molly Birch
Molly Birch
Editor-In-Chief

My name is Molly, and I am in my second year at NMU. I come from Midland, MI, probably one of the most boring places on earth. However, we do have the only Tridge in the world, so that’s pretty nifty...

The North Wind Editorial Sessions
About us

The North Wind is an independent student publication serving the Northern Michigan University community. It is partially funded by the Student Activity Fee. The North Wind digital paper is published daily during the fall and winter semesters except on university holidays and during exam weeks. The North Wind Board of Directors is composed of representatives of the student body, faculty, administration and area media.

PROFILE — Katie Buhrmann is a 2022 alum of NMU and the executive administrative assistant in NMUs Office of Institutional Effectiveness. She recently self-published her first book of poetry. Photo courtesy of Katie Buhrmann
Alumni Katie Buhrmann explores South Korea through language
Katarina RothhornMarch 28, 2024

Letter to the editor

Dear Editor,

I am writing in response to Trinity Carey’s column published in the February 23, 2017 issue of the North Wind. Ms. Carey makes an admirable case for following one’s passion, for finding “value not just in my paycheck,” but also in “how I earn it.” Like her, I was an English major as an undergraduate, and I’ve followed my passions for decades—teaching literacy in county jails, editing literary magazines, writing books, and teaching college students. I value every minute of my career.

I want to emphasize that following your passion does not have to mean living in poverty. I often hear disparaging remarks about students majoring in the humanities, remarks that suggest they will find no viable employment options. These remarks are uninformed. The primary difference between majoring in English, French, or philosophy and majoring in business or nursing isn’t whether you’ll get a job—it’s how you go about getting that job.

Rather than focusing on the title of their degree, students in the humanities focus on the skills they’ve acquired—oral and written communication, critical and imaginative thinking. Recent articles in the Wall Street Journal and other publications have highlighted the fact that these are exactly the skills employers currently seek. Jobs for humanities graduates are out there—don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. If your passion is literature or writing, come by the English Department. Let’s chat.

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Sincerely,
Dr. Lynn Domina
Head and Professor
English Department

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