Welcome to Sac State International! It seems that the rolling luggage backpacks that are so popular at airports around the world, are proliferating our campus. They are a great help to those with bad backs, but for the rest of us they are a nuisance. The campus police need to come out with statistics of how many injuries are caused by wayward rolling backpacks. Next we?ll see people buying Razor scooters to transport their school “luggage.”

?Secretary of State Bill Jones was on campus last week promoting his efforts to increase voter registration. Jones turned the library quad into a veritable party; with hamburgers, good music (aside from the Backstreet Boys), jousting and even a speech by our illustrious President, Donald Gerth.

It?s nice to see that the south-side of campus can be more than just masses of people walking to their cars. It?s only too bad that it can only happen for special events or Greek recruitment week.

College campuses are supposed to be vibrant centers of intellectual activity, be it any form. When walking across our campus, one quickly sees that there is something lacking. We need some protesters, musicians, and over-all lunatics to spice things up. What can beat a budding guitarist playing the first few chords of “Stairway to Heaven” over and over? Or what about angry students disappointed that the presidential debates are a sham?

?It?s great that we have people like Bill Jones, John McCain, Anthony Pescetti and Tom Campbell coming to campus and livening things up for the rest of us, but one has to wonder why only Republicans are making appearances here. I think it,s time for a Democrat to visit our “prestigious” school. Or even better, how about Ralph Nader. That would cause a lot of excitement.

We did have the mayoral debate here on Monday, and an event that will prove to the world that Sac State isn?t just a backwater state university, we will get Bill Maher and his talk show, “Politically Incorrect,” at the end of the month.

?The long line at the Wells Fargo ATM at the River Front Center highlights the need for another Wells Fargo ATM somewhere on campus. We did have one in the University Union, but that disappeared sometime over the summer. It may have stolen some people?s money, but it was better than paying the ridiculous fees that are levied by B of A for non-customers.

?Last but not least, ASI should be commended for being the only people to pay any attention to the random fire alarms that have been going off in the University Union.

On Thursday, the ASI staff could be seen, en masse, evacuating their offices. Apparently, fire safety is a concern for ASI staff ?they used the fire escape that is usually just a smoking patio. Way to follow the rules guys!

Brendan D. Wonnacott is a Government and History major. He can be contacted mail c/o the State Hornet, 6000, J Street, Sacramento, CA 95819, or by email at [email protected].