Bravo to Edward Kennedy and his life accomplishments. The Massachusetts senator passed away Tuesday night after battling brain cancer for just more than a year. Whether or not you agreed with his politics, Kennedy dedicated much of his life to serving the American people. He was elected nine times to the Senate and was the third-longest serving senator in American history. He championed causes such as education, voting rights and health care, and Sen. Robert Byrd, D-WV, has encouraged Congress to name the debated health care reform bill in Kennedy’s honor. America has reached the end of a Kennedy era with this loss, but we continue to honor the family and the senator who contributed so much to this country.
Boo to the start of school and all that comes with it. We’re already tired of being run over by bicyclists and battling throngs of people to get to class in 100-plus degree weather. We were only excited for summer to be over because we were waiting for the temperature to drop. Clearly, that isn’t happening for a while. Of course, here in the newsroom and in many classrooms, the air conditioning is blasting at uncomfortably low temperatures. Our solution? Invest in a Snuggie. Not only does the blanket with arms keep you warm while allowing excellent mobility, it also makes you look like a Jedi when worn backwards. It’s a win-win situation and the biggest plus of the semester so far.
Boo to having to buy textbooks. Despite many students turning to online options, the lines at ASU bookstores were still massive this week. Unfortunately, the prices followed suit. With so much being spent on tuition and surcharges, our pocketbooks are already too light. Web sites like Chegg.com do rent textbooks, claiming to have saved students more than a chunk of change, but renting books can be a hassle as well. Even though the ASU bookstore kindly offers to buy back some of our books at the end of the semester, getting $2 after you’ve paid $40 for something like Plato’s “Republic” does not make a good deal. We’re starting to think reading is only for the rich.
Bravo to Downtown Phoenix campus for taking off its training wheels. After several semesters of feeling like a ghost town, more students seem to be on the campus this fall. Shop owners are also optimistic that the student influx will bring in more business. Yesterday, the campus hosted the Downtown Devil Expo to encourage student involvement in clubs and Greek life, and there are many more events planned. It might not be as established as the Tempe campus, but we are glad to see the Downtown campus coming into its own.
Boo to the lack of a football game this Saturday. There seems to be a little less ASU spirit going around this week, but next week we expect the campus to be full of students wearing maroon and gold. Be prepared to gear up to watch ASU take on Idaho State next Saturday at Sun Devil Stadium and cheer our football players on.
