There is nothing like a list to arbitrarily sum everything up. In that vein, here is my list of what we learned this year:

1. There is still hope. Even though it seems like the United States is at war (or plans to be) with most of the world, we still have some bright futures. Politicians are standing up for what they believe in (especially Rep. Dennis Kuchinich and Rep. Barbara Lee), and we aren?t drilling in Alaska.2. Students and faculty hold the voice of revolution. There were protests on campus, and Sacramento State students were also at the Capitol and San Francisco to voice their opinions. Our faculty were a big presence at the Capitol, using union power to negotiate their salary contract with the California State University. We aren?t apathetic after all.

3. U.S. oil dependency has led to some really bad decisions. The majority of the population may be starting to see how our guzzling of oil is leading to civilian bombing, and enemy making in vital oil regions, and has us considering the despoiling of one of the natural wonders of the country, the Artic Refuge. We should have never given $17 million to the Taliban to urge them for a pipeline, and there are some much better solutions to our energy consumption than our current foreign policy.

4. The power of a University brings together so many diverse people. Do you ever look around and hear what your classmates are saying, see the many cultures they are coming from? It?s amazing! We don?t have riots and severe class conflict, although we have such differences. Let?s be proud of our campus and its ability to create a cooperative environment where many voices can be heard, and all of us can work toward common goals.

5. Politics seem to corrupt people. They seem to make people make foolish decisions, so that they see the ends of their narrrow-minded goals. With the Associated Students, Inc. elections, we saw some less than noble acts, and some people acted unethically and foolishly. Unfortunately, we see this same sort of behavior in the White House.

6. Sacramento is just like any other place. Well, our tabloid-worthy story of pretty Sara Dutra playing a role in a murder alerted us to the fact that Sac State is “one of those places.” We also have amazing women like Tricia Randall who organized community service day. Sacramento is a place like any other, where there is a complete range of possibilities.

7. Sept 11 reminded us that there is a lot more to life than school. A deathly pall hung around for a couple of weeks, as if we were breathing in the smoke from the towers. Many of us wanted the basics then, like the safety of our friends and family. Let us not forget that is what matters.

8. President Donald Gerth is still old and unpopular. I?m starting to feel sorry for the guy, but our President is antiquated and not cool. Maybe some year he?ll retire and laugh us all off while golfing.

9. Graduation is harder than it looks. With all the paper work and the crappy, overpriced gowns and portfolios, it?s like learning a trapeze act while taking a full load. And then what do you do?

10. College is really about the people you meet. I?m not going to remember the formula for the frequency of a wavelength, but I will not forget my acoustics professor. When is all said and done, it?s about the folks.

Is Donald Gerth really uncool? Tell Samantha Hinrichs what you thinnk at [email protected].