Bravo to Chapman University for their ingenious stress-relieving therapy. On Dec. 9, students at the private school will have a hug-a-thon. No, not with random people, but with puppies. The Furry Friends for Finals program, proposed by Chapman’s Student Counseling Center, is every bit as good as the name implies. Who wouldn’t love to de-stress with a bunch of cute, cuddly baby animals? If only our student fees went to funding a huge puppy tent on Hayden Lawn during finals. Imagine the joy that would spread through campus. Never have we lamented more about not being a private university.
Boo to the finale of the semester — mostly for ruining what otherwise is a good word. While it’s true we couldn’t be happier about the end of schoolwork being near, it’s also true that we love awesome finales. Finales are the best part of television shows, championship-caliber sporting events, tear-jerking animated films and epic concerts. We also expect things like fireworks displays and drunken nights to end with a bang. Wanting things to end on a good note is an all-American tradition. It’s part of the fabric of our culture. So why is it that the finale of a semester is the worst part? It’s counterintuitive, disappointing and tiring — really, really tiring.
Bravo to political discourse on and around campus. Former presidential candidate Ron Paul will be speaking to students on Hayden Lawn Friday. With Joe Biden and Sarah Palin’s recent visits to the state, it seems as though this is the season of the Campaign 2008 reunion in Arizona. The diverse student body at ASU makes it an ideal location for speakers from all sides of the political spectrum. And for an up-and-coming group of young voters, paying attention to the issues and the players is key. So, we may not be hugging puppies, but at least ASU is a magnet for big-name politicians.
Boo to the Pac-10’s early-season basketball failures. Aside from ASU and the Washington schools, our once-proud conference has been reeling so far this fall. Perhaps the toll of losing dozens of players to the NBA Draft over the past two seasons has finally added up, or perhaps some teams decided to wait to show up until the conference schedule starts, but regardless of the reason, the embarrassment continues. Half of the Pac already has three or more losses. Oregon lost to Montana, USC lost to Loyola Marymount and UCLA lost to Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State and Portland. These poor performances could ultimately either help and hurt ASU — help by raising their final conference standing and hurt by lowering their strength of schedule. But one thing is for sure now: The Pac-10 needs help fast because it hurts to watch.
Bravo to taking a stance. President Barack Obama announced his plan of action for U.S. involvement in Afghanistan this week. In his speech, viewed by more than 40 million, Obama told the nation his decision to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan to help create stability in the country. Whether we agree or disagree with Obama’s decision, having a course of action is better than being in political limbo.
