Mary Mulualem – The Lilypad · DKU's Independent Student-led Publication

Students discuss campus diversity ahead of Student Leader Board campaign

Mary Mulualem 2025-11-04 No Comments

The Student Leader Board (SLB)’s Intercultural Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (IDI) is planning a series of culture and diversity-related events throughout session two to raise discussions on race and diversity related issues at DKU. To get a better sense of the campus climate towards these issues as they stand now, the LilyPad surveyed students on their thoughts.

Visiting Faculty Dr. Jennifer Turner Discusses Teaching Climate Storytelling

Mary Mulualem 2025-09-30 No Comments

Visiting faculty member Dr. Jennifer Turner sat down with the LilyPad to discuss her career and journey to teaching climate storytelling at DKU as an avenue for sustainability.

Sustainable DKU Hosts Farmer’s Market and Thrift Store

Mary Mulualem 2025-09-06 No Comments

Sustainable DKU kicked off the 2025-26 school year with an early Farmer’s Market and Thrift Store event on Wednesday, September 3. The market consisted of food stalls and a thrift store of donated clothes items from the DKU community.

How Climate Science Denial Keeps America Frozen in Time

Mary Mulualem 2025-07-31 No Comments

Obfuscating the political scales on environmental science is keeping America frozen in time, particularly when it comes to energy and natural disasters. Climate denial is generally considered a fringe conspiracy in other countries. In the USA, legislators openly proclaim to be anti-science. Of the 541 members of the 118th congress,

Anonymous: Not So Quiet on the Western Front

Mary Mulualem 2025-04-08 No Comments

I find parallels between being at Duke and being behind enemy lines. Although we receive Duke degrees and share similar curricula, syllabi, and faculties, impostor syndrome is common among DKU students. Hearing about it is one matter; experiencing it is entirely different. Letters like this can perhaps help future DKU students during their time in the US.

Mary Magdalene: Miss-Representation in Italian High Renaissance Art

Mary Mulualem 2025-04-02 No Comments

The Gospel of John describes Mary Magdalene as the first person to see Jesus Christ after his Resurrection. According to John, Magdalene afterwards said to Christ’s disciples, “I have seen the Lord”. Through modern scholarship, it has become apparent that her characterization has been subject to many changes from the

In defense of the seven-week schedule

Mary Mulualem 2024-10-31 No Comments

Although I agree that trying to fit a syllabus into seven weeks forces many classes to feel like they are flying by too quickly, I can appreciate the way this keeps students on their toes. If anything, I think there is great experience to be gained that will hopefully help DKU graduates while trying to navigate an increasingly fast-paced dynamic competitive global workforce.

Anonymous: My undefined discomfort with polyamory

Mary Mulualem 2024-10-10 No Comments

Submitted anonymously to The LilyPad I find myself particularly uncomfortable with the concept of polyamory. It makes me question my values of love, intimacy, and balance in relationships. Polyamory challenges the traditional views I hold about relationships, particularly my ideas on exclusivity being fundamental for commitment. While I recognize polyamory

American students organize absentee voter registration drive ahead of presidential election

Mary Mulualem 2024-09-29 No Comments

In DKU’s 11-year history, there has never been an organized effort to help American citizens living in China abroad vote. In the 2024 presidential election, this will no longer be the case. This election cycle, student-led efforts, and campus administrative offices have been instrumental in helping students cast their ballots

Is there still a reason to get married?

Mary Mulualem 2024-09-26 No Comments

Since starting university, I’ve been asked many times by people from my parents’ and grandparents’ generations if any of my friends are engaged or married. Those questions always shocked me, and my answer that most of my friends were not even in relationships would always shock them back. In my

Author: Mary Mulualem