It's that time of year again. I can always tell when it's December. I count down the days until the New Year dawns, and with it, the fresh start and renewed optimism that seem to always accompany it.
The month drags, usually, and it seems to always bring me down a bit, as I think of the way things could have been, the way things should have been and the way things really are. And as always, I am amazed by the difference. To borrow a line from Counting Crows, "It's a long December when there's reason to believe that maybe this year will be better than the last."
If you're like me, you do look forward to the week right around Christmas and New Years. I mean, hey, I am not heartless, though there are certain people who would beg to differ. It is a time of family and friends and most importantly, a time of inner reflection. A great opportunity to look back on the year and see those things that made the year good and build on them, and to see what made the year not so good and try to correct them.
For me 2001 was bittersweet, and a transition year from Johnny Frat-Guy to Johnny Real World (a.k.a. Johnny Have No Fun). I always thought your senior year was supposed to be the highlight of college, and where all the easy classes are. All I do is study and work, and in four months, I will walk across a stage with a cap and gown and look forward to whoring myself out to corporate America for the next 40 years of my life. Hooray for capitalism!
As for our greek system at Ball State, 2001 was also a transition year. It will always be remembered as the time when Ball State made greeks accountable for their actions. It will be remembered by the ignorant and few as a time when we lost our parties, but the intelligent majority will hopefully remember 2001 as a time when BSU made the choices that should have been made years ago. It was a tough pill to swallow for many, but it just may have saved us before something bad happened.
I will remember 2001 as the year of the Cardinal. It was great to witness the resurgence of the men's basketball team, the football saga that ended with a shared title, and the tremendous school spirit shown by our student body as we support our fellow students who balance college with Division I athletics.
As the rest of you will too, I will remember 9/11 as if it was yesterday. The images of that day's events will be emblazoned in my mind forever, and it was the defining moment of the new millennium. Our country is strong though, and as I was praying it would, we have rallied. Fear and hatred have given way to courage and freedom. There are those who wish to see freedom destroyed only because they do not understand it. They hate it. They envy it. Bricks may fall, and lives lost, but the determination and spirit of our nation and our people will never be destroyed.
For all of my readers, I thank you for your support and compliments over the last semester. I have appreciated the kind words of encouragement. And, whether you like me or hate me I wish you all the best for the holiday season. I hope your 2001 was a great year, and 2002 is all that and more.
Write to Alan atbsugreek@hotmail.com
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