Students are always saying that they wish the sporting events at John Carroll drew in as much of a fan base as they do at bigger schools. This makes sense because sporting events can make the University money, create a community bond and make the overall experience of college more enjoyable. With all this being said, I have a question myself: if so many people wish sports were a bigger deal, why do so few people attend them?

It’s true that John Carroll is a Division III school so our student body is much smaller than that of a Division I or II school. But we still have great teams to come out and support.

The football team finished .500, the men’s basketball team is currently 14-4, men’s soccer finished 12-8, women’s soccer finished 14-8, hockey is currently 15-9 and softball finished 26-14. Not only did very few people attend any of these team’s games, even fewer knew when the games were. Great teams deserve great fans. What better incentive is there to watching your school play than knowing that you’ll be watching a winning team? Yes we go to a small school, but the level of attention that sports get is decided by us, the student body.

Attending sporting events not only benefits the students in the stands, but also the athletes playing. As a former high school athlete I know I always played better when I knew someone I cared about was watching. Even if you’re not a sports fan, if all your friends were attending a basketball or hockey game, you would probably go too. This would open up doors to meeting new people and making more friends.

If students came out to support John Carroll, this would increase school spirit and make students prouder to be a Blue Streak.

In addition to good times and new friends, the money that you pay to get into games will go to the University. That means better facilities, more on-campus events, more of all kinds of things that increase your well being at John Carroll.

So next time you’re watching a Division I basketball or football game, and you think to yourself “I wish John Carroll sporting events were like that,” make it happen. Find out when the games are and spread the word, bring friends, make T-shirts, get the student section rowdy. If you’re on a sports team, make yourself known, tell people when the games are and get them hyped about them.

So we’ll never have the same fan base as Notre Dame, who cares? Make sports a big deal at John Carroll by changing things up. If a few people lead, others will follow.

This is clearly something that a large part of John Carroll’s student body wants, because I know I’m not the only one that hears people complain about sports not being a big enough deal here. Sporting events can really enhance the social experience of college and benefit everyone involved. If you want sports to be a big deal at Carroll make them a big deal.

Go Blue Streaks!

Personally, I identify and am registered with the Republican Party. My preference is not solely based on ideology (though it is not entirely obsolete), but also on what I feel to be a better track record.  Hailing from an East Coast state, the corruption and big machinery of the Democratic Party is rather abhorrent. The few times Republicans have held statewide office in this region, it has been for the better (Chris Christie and George Pataki, to name a few).  One may ask, how was it that these great leaders could be elected into office? The way I see it, this was because the party realized the need for a pragmatic approach and selected the candidate who had the best chance for victory.  On the national level, however, I am afraid that this approach is lacking within the party.

Barack Obama has been in office for a little over three years.  Personally, I believe that he has performed a terrible job in office.  Of course, he has not achieved anything as president during his tenure, which would disqualify him from being labeled as a good or bad president in my opinion.  It appears as though he thoroughly wishes to be the most effective do nothing president in recent history. While his administration may be one for the record books, it is not one that the American people need for four more years.

At first, Republicans seemed to be opening up.  They had a Mormon and former Massachusetts governor as their front-runner.  Mitt Romney is by no means a conservative. He is a bull’s-eye moderate right on the ideological dart board, and that is perfectly acceptable.  Romney is conservative on the two dominant issues of the race, fiscal and foreign policy.  As a result of this, Romney has held the slight edge over the president in recent polls. Why is this?  It is because the crucial independent voters can accept him as a candidate.

Unfortunately, last Saturday’s South Carolina primary displayed some bleak colors.  After adhering to fears that “a moderate” would be the Republican nominee if Romney won, South Carolinians granted Newt Gingrich 40 percent of the vote. I find this to be rather absurd on a few accounts, but the fact that Gingrich has a weaker national standing than Romney in the polls doesn’t leave much to the imagination. Let’s face facts, conservatives can talk all they want about social issues, but at the end of the day, the unemployed swing voter will not be concerned with whom he/she can marry. So why is Gingrich better for the Republican Party just because he proclaims himself to be a “conservative”?

A typical answer lately has been that he evokes the policies of Reagan. That rhetoric may sound good on the surface, but we must remember that Reagan ran for president over 30 years ago.  Times have changed, and the “Great Communicator” would have known better than anyone pragmatism was key to victory, which enabled him to govern effectively.

So in effect, the Republican Party has to realize that fundamental ideology is not always beneficial. The best candidate must be backed. This year, like it or not, Romney’s the guy.  If Gingrich wins the nomination, I have a feeling it will be another four years of a useless Democratic administration.

I am writing this as a memory and as a thank you to everyone who helped make me who I am today during my time at John Carroll, despite where we are now; starting from the beginning.

Vinnie. This is hard writing to you after everything that’s happened, but I can’t deny that you’ve had an impact on me. Falling in love is the biggest leap anyone can take, and you showed me what it felt like, for the very first time, to feel that way. Though time heals all wounds, you never forget the person who first made you feel like you were the prettiest, smartest, most wonderful person in the world. So, for the time we had at Carroll, and the growth you’ve given me, I thank you and will always look back fondly on all of the good memories we shared.

As for you, Mr. Bond, our friendship has been amazing. You are my long lost brother who I oddly share many (weird) similarities with. I’ve even sometimes convinced myself we were separated at birth. I never thought the guy in my economics class freshman year, who I thought liked me and who I later found out thought I was a snobby “brat” (for editing purposes), would be a lifelong friend. Thank you so much for the all-nighters, several trips of emptying out vending machines in order to binge, and amazing laugh- until-we-cry times. You’ve shown me that blood doesn’t even come close to the bond we have.

Courtney, oh Courtney. You were by far the most enjoyable person to room with. I will not list all of the hysterical and wonderful times we’ve had in order to save you from embarrassment (just kidding, but not really). You have been such a wonderful friend, always excited to hear what stupid stories I had to tell you, or just there for a good laugh. Thank you for making my JCU experience so much better. “Twi-hard” fans for life.

Hannah, my little lemon. Though we had an almost two-year hiatus, I know God brought you back into my life at the perfect time, even before I knew why. You have strengthened me in so many ways and I cannot thank you enough. You are probably one of the best listeners I know (when you’re not texting) and are probably one of the most genuine people I know. Thank you for being my best friend, and if I ever become a writer, I’ll make sure your section is longer next time; I just know that I have you for life. I love you.

Of course, I have The Carroll News to thank; you all have been so much fun (“The Coon”), as well as Einstein’s and their amazing Caramel Café Blend (or Café Caramel Blend?). I still can’t get it right. Tour guides, you’re awesome, and we definitely have the best job on campus (along with The CN). And finally, to my professors, who have inspired me and prepared me to go into this world knowing who I am.

What I’ve learned in a nutshell: never hold grudges, forget the bad, and remember the good, because it’s more exciting to look back and smile. And never judge someone by what others say unless you’ve experienced getting to know them. You could be missing out on a great friendship.

So, I thank you John Carroll, and for all of you who make John Carroll what it is, because I have been impacted by so many, not just those named above. I am so grateful for my experience here, which in fact is not ending, but only beginning as I will start my career as an admissions counselor here in January, only steps away where I will have left as a tour guide.

This is my closure.

Normally seeing a picture of Adam Sandler just makes me queasy, but the poster was for a John Carroll sponsored event: Late Night Dinner and a Movie. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was impossible that the school I love would sponsor such a harmful and grotesque event, and support a movie that literally makes people more stupid.

“But Ben, it’s just a movie.” I beg to differ. “Jack and Jill” is just the latest in a slew of Adam Sandler movies that have bombarded our movie theaters, tricked freedom-loving Americans into buying tickets, and then taken a dump on their brains. I’m not talking about classics like “Happy Gilmore” and “Billy Madison.” I’m talking about the garbage that Sandler has been putting out for the better part of the last 10 years. Not only are these movies extremely unfunny, but they also induce physical and mental disablement.

Don’t believe me? After seeing “Grown Ups” last summer, my sister forgot how to use stairs, and after an accident with an escalator, had to get spinal surgery. Back in high school, I went to see “You Don’t Mess With the Zohan” with my best friend Billy. I blacked out after the first fart joke, but I awoke five days later to find that I had completely lost control of my bowel movements, and that Billy was in a catatonic state. Luckily, I was able to pull through, but poor Billy never recovered. He still will only respond to Nick Swardson impersonations.

Yet people are still falling prey to Adam Sandler’s shameless deception. All four of his recent movies have made over $30 million their opening weekend. Another disturbing statistic states that they all made over $100 million before ending their theatrical run.

“Jack and Jill” looks to be the worst of them all. The movie has Sandler playing twins named Jack and Jill (really?) who get together for the holidays, despite Jill being a real pain in the butt. It’s painfully cliché in the first place, but then you add Sandler dressed in drag,  you have a pure nightmare. My eyes bled for 15 minutes just after watching the trailer.

It may have been some kind of gross oversight, but John Carroll still needs to take responsibility for the event, and take measures to make sure it never happens again. In fact, we all need to take a stand. As my grandpa always said, “Every time an Adam Sandler movie is released, a puppy is eaten alive by cannibals.” If we refuse to buy the ticket, the movie won’t make money, and no more will be released. We can stop the cycle. If we don’t, there may be nothing to stop Sandler’s reign of hellfire from coming down upon us all.

I was prompted to think about time because of the recent shift in hour, Daylight Savings Time. Last Saturday, I along with many others rejoiced in the fact that I would have one more hour to the day. With this hour I could look forward to more sleep, more time to spend with my friends, even more time to accomplish homework; the choice was mine. It being Saturday night I decided to spend this hour with my friends. As I sat in my room talking with them it was a somewhat liberating feeling to know that although the clock read 11 pm it was really 10 pm. The night was young.  There was a freedom and an ease to the conversation because we knew we had an extra hour that night.

I know some people complain about there not being enough time in the day, and I admit it, I am one of those offenders. The 24 hours in a day never seem to be enough for me. Not enough time for me to complete all of my assignments for class, attend my meetings, work, eat full meals, exercise, spend time with friends, and even sleep. I always seem to be saying to myself, “If I just had one more hour in the day…” Well last weekend I was awarded that gift, and for the first time in my life I realized it Daylight Savings Time is the one 25-hour day of the year. What’s funny though is that I really didn’t do anything different because of that extra hour. I still stayed up late with friends and had fun. So although I pine away for that 25th hour of the day all the time, it’s important for me to remember it wouldn’t change any of my poor time management skills.

The only thing that really changed for me was my peace of mind. I was in a good mood because I knew that in a way all of my friends and I were cheating time. I now have an understanding why some people always have their clocks set to either five or 10 minutes fast. They are reveling in the fact that in a way they are cheating time. Now this little gift doesn’t happen all of the time. In only happens in times of stress or panic, or forgetfulness. They may look at the clock and think that they are running late or they won’t get a certain task finished. But then they remember in a split second, that they actually have more time. They have a few extra minutes to complete some work, enjoy someone’s company, or even sleep.

I never could comprehend why anyone would set their clocks to a time other than the present hour. I’m not a huge fan of math and the constant mental subtraction of figuring the exact time irritates me. If not all of the time pieces were the same time how do you know which one is right? But after realizing the beauty of daylight savings time I kind of get it. I like the idea of cheating time.

For example; aren’t you sick of having to walk to class?

Shouldn’t administration provide shuttles for us during the winter months?

Tuition is the highest it’s ever been, and the students should come first if we’re paying so much.

Besides such trivial things, what irks me the most about campus life is this – why are there never enough carrots in the cafeteria?

I’m dead serious. Every time I walk into the cafeteria they’re the only thing that I want to compliment my daily dosage of (thin as paper, but still somehow soggy as a sponge) pizza.

My day is automatically ruined when I walk over to the salad bar and there are only one or two – or in even some cases, none (gasp!) – of those delectable, crunchy, thumb-sized orange sticks.

Can’t a tuition-paying, regularly involved student who gets good enough grades get his fair share of carrots? The founding fathers of this university must be rolling in their graves.

My only question is where are all the carrots going? According to my calculations and rigorous research, the administration only allows the daily carrot import to the cafeteria to account for 1 percent of the entire student population.

Who makes up this “1 percent” who consume almost all of our carrots? Is it a small greedy portion of our fellow students? Is it the cafeteria staff, because they need something to munch on while they are working?

Who’s to say this “1 percent” is even human? Has anyone else noticed the abnormally high rabbit population around University Heights?

I mean, I’m not pointing fingers, but rabbits like carrots. Lots of rabbits means a sharp decrease in carrots. It’s simple economics.

And that’s why I’m proposing to make a student stand against this grave injustice. We’ll call it Occupy Wall – no, better yet, Occupy John Carrot.

I demand the administration act upon the carrot crisis, and until then, I will not attend class. I encourage many of you who see this unjust carrot distribution to join me and drop everything in your life to get this done.

We, as the 99 percent who are only allowed one or two carrots a day, are strong and can achieve equal carrot rights.

The administration should invest in an anti-rabbit force armed with B.B. guns on campus that can wipe out this ever-swelling population of carrot-stealing rodents.

They should also provide us with “carrot stamps” that we can hand in at local grocery stores to cover the exorbitantly high cost of a bag of carrots.

Do you think other colleges have these problems? My brother goes to school in Cincinnati, and in his cafeteria, they just don’t have a salad bar, they have a carrot bar that serves only carrots.

I don’t know if you’ve been to Cincinnati, but I also noticed a sharp lack of certain big-eared, buck-toothed, carrot-loving creatures roaming freely around the city.

We here in the good ole University Heights probably have it the worst out of any college in America.

This administration only seeks to make money by not spending on carrots and doesn’t care about the 99 percent of us who don’t get the carrots that other students around the country are enjoying.

We are the 99 percent, we are Occupy John Carrot.

What is the point of me writing this column? Well, to put it simply, I’m asking that all of the afore mentioned RA’s, CSS officers, JCU administrators and local police units simply let this college town flourish. Whether you like it or not, University Heights is a college town. There is no arguing that. Just look at the name. So what exactly am I getting at?

Enough of the overprotective, overly aggressive attempts to ruin the fun that takes place in college. I’m not asking for you to let the students roam around campus and do whatever the hell they want. Instead, I’m asking that you simply stop going out of your way to intentionally “bust” college students on the weekends. If a freshman is walking through campus with a 30 rack of Natty Light, then obviously you have to bust him. If students are drinking in their dorm rooms while blasting music, yelling, and making an overall ruckus, then you have to bust them.

What I’m trying to say is that if a student brings the punishment on his/herself by being blatantly obvious with what they are doing on the weekends, then they can’t really be mad when they get written up or ticketed. However, if students are written up because the RA claimed it “smelled like beer” in the hall (which I would assume is a boldfaced lie) or because a CSS officer was hiding in bushes, waiting for students to retrieve beer from their cars (unbelievably this actually happens), then they have every right to be upset.

College is about having fun – while doing your required work, of course. So if students bust their ends all week long through classes, work, sports and other extra-curricular activities, then let them relax a little bit on the weekends.

Obviously, JCU cannot “endorse” underage drinking or other illegal activities, but they certainly can turn the other cheek when you hear a little bit of clatter outside of a student’s room on Friday night rather than barging in, and going on a power trip.

As long as no one is threatening physical violence, damaging the dormitories or campus, and being relatively respectful of their surroundings, who are they honestly hurting? Drinking, partying, going out on the weekends, being social and enjoying yourselves is without a doubt part of the college experience. So, JCU and local police, please stop pretending that it isn’t. At one time, you were all in college as well. You all experienced everything that college had to offer, and now we are trying to do the same. You can sympathize with that, can’t you?

JCU is one of the best academic schools in the area, has a gorgeous campus and other great assets. When the weekend arrives though, it seems as if the University and surrounding police officers have one goal: eliminate all possible fun. It’s sad that that’s the way it is, because John Carroll University has the potential to be one of the most fun, most enjoyable and worthwhile colleges to attend in the area.

Together, as one collective university, let’s embrace that fact. Please tone down the power trips. Press pause on “Operation: Eliminate All Fun at JCU.” Let the student body enjoy themselves on the weekends, within reason, so when JCU students look back on their college experience in 40 years, they don’t think, “Man, that was a waste of time.”

The ball is in your court, JCU/local cops. Compromise with us here and let this college town flourish like we know it can.

The email was vague and even after reading it over a few times I didn’t know exactly what I was getting myself into, but looking back I think that was somewhat intentional. I signed up more out of curiosity and intrigue than concrete knowledge or excitement of what I would actually be doing on the retreat.

I have been on religious and spiritual retreats before. Some were in high school and I also attended Manresa 17 in the spring semester of my freshman year at John Carroll.

Every retreat I’ve experienced has brought something different, such as a new understanding about myself, a friend, or my faith. With my previous experiences I knew I would at least enjoy getting away for one night and just relax off campus. All the same I was still apprehensive about the trip. Those feelings were soon relieved.

As I walked to the pool desk to meet the group I was only expecting to know about three of the 20 students who were attending. To my surprise, once I arrived I saw more familiar faces. I may not have known everyone personally but I was able to recognize quite a few, something that I have grown to love about John Carroll over the past few years.

From the short conversations with the other retreatants, I soon learned that they didn’t have any idea about the  information on the agenda either. But sometimes you just have to go with it and see what happens.

Although the retreat was only an overnight experience, there was still great knowledge that I gained which I think everyone deserves to know. The four retreat leaders, alumni who were former Guidance retreatants, shared some valuable life lessons which served as guiding posts for the group’s future life paths.

The main lesson imparted to us was, identify what you are personally passionate about – and ask how you can use that passion to help others. When you wake up in the morning, apart from being very groggy and drowsy, are you excited with whom you’re going to see and what you’re going to do? Are you happy? Are you proud of yourself? Those are some very loaded questions – yet two very significant questions. As college students we are making decisions that have the potential to affect our future every day.

We need to be asking ourselves those questions. And who cares if the answer isn’t what you planned in high school, or what you promised your parents. What’s important is that you can identify what you love and figure out how you can use that to have a positive impact in the community. It can be small gestures of reaching out to an old friend, or dedicating an hour of your week to a worthy cause.

With the overwhelming schedule of our busy lives it’s easy to forget to stop and breathe, to stop and appreciate the blessings we have as students at this university. We forget about the opportunities that are at our fingertips or that are sometimes taken for granted. And sometimes we feel constrained with the path we’re on. We forget that we have the ability to change our attitudes, actions, or even our majors to make us happier.

Retreats like Guidance allow for a time of reflection which help us remember our blessings, opportunities, and our empowerment as people living. Whenever I go on a retreat I am reminded of one of my favorite quotes by Jonathan Swift, “May you live all the days of your life.”  To me this sums up the perspective I gained from the retreat.

We can choose to wake up every day and go through the motions, our schedules, our to do list. Or you can take time to laugh, relax, give thanks, and go out of your way to help people. That’s the life I’m trying to live. I’m not quite there yet, but I’m working on it. Are you with me?

I don’t mean to sound like a grandma here, but the reality is they both suck. Granted, I do have a Facebook, and I text because my iPhone is really cool, but they both are awful.

Last weekend I saw “The Lion King” in 3D and nostalgia hit. Sixteen years ago at the age of 6, I sat in the theater and balled my eyes out when Mufasa died. I had the same reaction 16 years later. My point is times were more simple then.

As I was sitting in the theater, I got a text message informing me of the cancellation of plans I had later on that evening. Go figure … I’ll save bad friendships for another time. Anyway, texting makes all of this possible. In fact, that was the third time that weekend I had plans cancelled via my really cool iPhone.

My professor made a really good point. Well, she’s made several good points, but this one is relevant. Before texting and cell phones, making plans was difficult. You had to call the house phone, talk to parents for rides, and plan out everything far in advance. Plans rarely were cancelled last minute. Now, with a few swift movements of your thumbs, boom, cancelled.

I remember coming to this campus in 2008 as a freshman and even though I didn’t know a soul that went to this school, I recognized many faces Thanks, Facebook.

Don’t get me wrong, Facebook is great for networking and keeping in touch with long distance friends. I’ve lived in five different states; it definitely comes in handy, but when it’s used as the primary source of communication, that’s when we have a problem.

As a communications major, I get really frustrated when people fail to communicate well. Texting should not be used for constant conversations. There is nothing I hate more than when people are glued to their phones; it’s like I might as well be having a conversation with a wall, since that’s about as attentive as they are to my existence. It’s rude and selfish and disrespectful. Period.

The other day my friend and I were walking, and were almost trampled by a freshman (kind of how Mufasa got trampled by the water buffalo) who literally could not take her eyes off her cell phone while she was texting. Rumor has it that in Philadelphia, there is actually a $150 fine for texting and walking.

Considering my life was almost taken, I’d say it might not be such a bad idea.

Like I said, it’s not that I’m not guilty of any of this, but I have definitely seen myself change, as I no longer text to have conversations, but only to confirm plans or ask quick questions. Pick up your phone and call the person. Hear their voice, let them hear yours. It’s more personal.

Some of my best memories in high school are staying up on the phone for seven hours and talking to my best friend. I’d be exhausted, but it was totally worth it to actually hear his voice.

There is no way to have time for prayer, meditation, or just time to think to yourself if you are constantly distracted. Give yourself a challenge; don’t bring your phone to class one day. Somehow, I think you may survive and find yourself less distracted in class and more aware of yourself and your surroundings.

You see, last Wednesday, I woke up at about 9:15 in the morning to get ready for class. I checked my phone as soon as I woke up, and I saw that my dad had texted me. The text simply read, “Call me important.” I wasn’t sure at all what the important news was, but I never expected to hear what my dad was about to tell me.

As I started walking to my first class of the day, I gave my dad a call to see what the news was. Upon calling him at about 9:45 in the morning, my dad informed me that my Grandma (his mother) had passed only a few hours earlier at about 1:30 in the morning. It’s safe to say I was caught off guard immediately. It took me a few seconds to regroup and respond, but after taking a deep breath and trying to stay calm, I told my dad I was so sorry for him. My Grandma Delores, or “Dee-Dee” as my brothers and I called her ever since we were kids, had passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at the age of 84.

Heading to class right after learning news like that isn’t an easy thing to do. I tried to stay focused in class, but found my mind racing with thoughts as I tried to soak in the news. The most astonishing part of the phone call with my dad that morning was how calm he seemed to be. His mom had passed away roughly eight hours earlier, and yet here he was on the phone with me, calm as can be. He was completely composed, or so it seemed. Part of me is amazed at how calm he seemed to be on the phone, and the other part of me wasn’t so amazed. I know how emotionally strong my Dad is, but for him to have to deliver that news to me, his oldest son, it couldn’t have been easy.

I called my dad back later that day after I was done with my classes. We talked about the death of my Grandma Dee-Dee to more of an extent this time, as he explained what happened exactly and what the plans were from here. During our twenty minute phone conversation, there’s one thing that my dad said that stuck out the most. My dad will turn 63 years old in November, and he acknowledged that he might not have a whole ton of time left to live, as he’s dealt with his own health problems in recent years. Overall, he’s healthy, strong, and looks younger than most 63-year-old men do. Regardless, he and I both discussed the very real possibility that he might not be around to see my 8-year-old brother graduate high school.

Back to my point though, the one thing that stuck out in our conversation was when my dad talked about death. He said that death isn’t something you should grieve over necessarily, but rather that after death is a celebration of life. Your family and friends shouldn’t spend time dwelling on the loss, but instead they should channel that energy into celebrating a life lived. He told me that when his time is done on this earth, he wanted me to make sure that there weren’t any tears shed for him because that’s not something he wants. To put it simply, he told me that after his funeral there’s going to be an open bar and a good time to be had, and the first person to shed a tear gets a kick in the a**. That made me feel a lot better.

In many ways, my dad is my best friend. As I sit here writing this now, I wonder to myself: What am I going to do when that day comes? It’s natural for us to fear those inevitable days, but I think my dad knows that he’s taught me just about everything he knows, and that because of that, I’ll be fine without him. Death isn’t about mourning necessarily, but instead it should be about looking back on the good times that you had when that person was around, and you celebrate a life lived (or at least that’s how my Dad looks at it.). I think that’s a pretty good outlook though.

So yes, grasping death isn’t easy for anyone. However, if you’re around your friends and family, looking back on the good times had, celebrating a good life lived, it can make dealing with death that much easier. On that note, rest in peace Grandma Dee-Dee. It was a great 84 years lived.

I’m lucky, though. All I have to do to find something happy is look at my Uncle Brian. Uncle Brian has Down syndrome, and he is also one of the happiest people I know. He is so happy, I think, because all he worries about are the simple things in life. His world revolves around Weaver Workshop, eating, singer Tom Jones and the Cleveland Indians. I would add family to that list, but although he loves us, if he had to choose between family and Tom Jones I really think Tom Jones would win.

Uncle Brian is a special person. Despite the chaos and drama that sometimes surrounds him, I almost always see him with a smile. When he drives with my family to Mass each week, he always says, “Hi, Enemy.” He’s never been able to say “Emily,” and it’s a long-standing joke in the family. Someone will quip, “Emily’s no enemy.” Brian responds with a no, he loves “Enemy.”

He also can certainly make me laugh. He spent the weekend at my house once and we set him up with YouTube to watch some Tom Jones videos. He was in the kitchen and, once he was all set up, I was in the family room watching a movie. I turned the volume up so his music didn’t distract but it did absolutely no good. Before long, I had the volume all the way up, but nothing could tune out Uncle Brian’s singing voice. It was so funny I had to record it to share with the rest of the family.

Yes, Uncle Brian loves singing. He has a weekly Saturday night Tom Jones concert. He is known to be wailing songs like “What’s New Pussycat” until the wee hours of the morning. I’m not at all sad I’ve only been exposed to that once.

Uncle Brian also has a hilarious laugh. It’s a silly giggle that makes you want to giggle in turn.

That’s not to say he’s perfect. Like any other person, he certainly has flaws. Uncle Brian tends to be very ornery. (Although I can’t say that’s really his fault necessarily; it seems to run in the family.) When he’s scolded for it, he reacts as a child would and pouts.

He also gets on my nerves sometimes when he seems to need to know everything about everyone. If my dad isn’t at Mass one day because he had a weekend meeting, Uncle Brian will ask five times, “Where’s Patrick?” even though you’ve already told him. Sometimes when he does this I snip at him. I always immediately feel bad about it. I feel badly, partly because he has Down Syndrome and maybe I should cut him extra slack, but mostly because I know he asks because he loves his big brother and is concerned Pat’s not where he usually is on a Sunday morning.

Uncle Brian reminds me to be happy with what I’ve got. It’s important to remember your family and the activities you enjoy. The world outside of your little hamlet can be daunting and depressing at times. I think it’s important to be aware of what happens in the world because it inevitably affects us all. However, it is also important to take time out in the midst of the chaos to do something that makes us joyful, even if it’s singing a tone-deaf to a Tom Jones song at 2 a.m.

For most of you, this year will be your first time living away from home. Sure, you can still call your parents (and I highly suggest doing so because they probably want updates to their $40,000-plus per-year investment), but this is YOUR time to learn, grow and spend sleepless nights cramming for tests and writing research papers.

I like to call freshman year “a whole lot of awkward” because you encounter a whole lot of awkward situations. For example, you might be walking to class one day and you want to say hi to someone, but they turn their head away at the point you both make eye contact. Feeling like an idiot after that is natural.

So, to help you out, I thought back to my freshman year (which actually doesn’t seem that long ago) to offer you advice on how to not just survive, but thrive in your first year at JCU. Sure, you’ll still have a few awkward situations and screw-ups, but I hope to give you at least a few pointers on living your first year in University Heights.

Speaking of UH, here’s a word about our neighbors. Many of them love us; they value living next to an institution of higher learning. A few don’t like us, and some others can’t understand why a university would want to fully use its stadium. Bottom line, be nice to our neighbors. Employ the Golden Rule.

A former editor in chief of The CN once re-enforced an unspoken rule of our pristine campus in a column he wrote. Never, ever walk across the Quad to get to class. Ever. Even if you’re late – professors would prefer tardiness over expecting the Quad to bail you out, he wrote. The Quad is reserved for soaking up rays, friendly gridiron battles and high-quality games of bro-quet (yes, that’s croquet for bros) between the gentlemen of campus. Snowball fights are also a favorite when “Old Man Winter shows his ugly face.”

On a more serious note, if you ever need help of any kind, don’t ever be afraid to ask. Freshman year is a big period of adjustment, and sometimes it’s just hard. What sets JCU apart from a lot of other schools is that the professors care deeply about your development inside and outside of the classroom.

We upperclassmen have been in your shoes before – we know what you’re going through and we too can lend a hand. Your resident assistant and the University Counseling Center are also good resources.

Finally, I encourage you to get involved in something – a club, activity or service opportunity.

Show off your talents, or try something completely new. College is about broadening your horizons and meeting people. An extracurricular will also help take your mind off the stress academia sometimes brings.

If you’re having trouble finding something to do, I hear there’s an award-winning college newspaper that’s always looking for talented writers and creative minds.

We’ve all been there, 12 a.m. on the night before a test, fretting over how much there is to study or the difficulty one is having learning it. Similar emotions are evoked in contexts outside of academia, namely, life. It is normal to be anxious when one is about to face a difficult task. There is the possibility of failure and that is scary. But how many real life tests have you not lived through? Since you’re reading this, I’m guessing the answer is zero.

From the beginning of our lives in this educational system, we are bred for perfection. We need to memorize nearly every detail of every topic we encounter. Certainly, this is necessary for professions in the medical field. But, in subjects of the liberal arts, that are supposed to study the products of human life (not really for a reason essential for the preservation of human life), students are penalized for something integral to human life: being wrong. We are told that the way to be successful is to never make mistakes. This idea makes most of us do all we can to be perfect.

If you look around at the people of the world, from the business people, to the intellectuals to the impoverished, you’ll notice something interesting. It is often the most perfect people, those with Ph.d.s, photographic memories, and 4.0s,  that have the most skewed views of reality. The people that seem to have the most wisdom are usually those who have made the most mistakes, no matter their educational background.

Being a Catholic university, our policies and missions are influenced by the teachings of the Church and its scholars. The well-respected St. Augustine is noted as having said, “Fallor ergo sum,” meaning, “I err therefore I am.” I concede that Augustine was a little wrong about some things, like the whole “sex is sinful” idea. But, his thoughts on being wrong are pretty insightful and express the essense of what it means to be human. Our superiors often treat us as if all minds have the potential to be perfect. Except, they’re wrong. All minds only have the potential to be human and to improve their humanity.

Self-improvement is what we should be evaluated on because, let’s face it, we aren’t all good at every subject or skill. Yet, we are judged  according to  the same standard as those who are talented in certain subjects or are just good at school. There is no allowance for individuality. The only solution, providing we stick with the same general education system, is to be evaluated on our own personal progress, whether it be improvement in critical, writing, or other skills.

Despite the number of people who share these views with me, we keep doing things the way we have for too long. The reason? Most are too lazy to have to evaluate on a subjective basis and society seems to want to breed an elitist population with the similar talents, all the while suppressing creativity. It is dehumanizing and ignorant.

So now you’re dead. You’ve worked all of your life striving for perfection but in the end you’ve failed life, the largest test. Except now you’re in the most perfect state that many believe is possible.

For those of you who haven’t noticed the banners or windows in the atrium, and the large increase in matching shirts with strange lettering worn by fellow students, I’m here to tell you it’s Greek Week.

For some people not affiliated with a Greek organization and who may not be friends with one of 14 percent of the student body involved, you may think of this week as just an excuse for all the Greeks on campus to come together and be overly nice and competitive at the same time. You may get annoyed with the chants, cheers, vuvuzelas and the continued talk and drama of  the week’s events. But I’m here to assure you it’s all for a good cause.

I am a huge proponent of the Greek system here at Carroll. I should be, considering I’m president of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. Needless to say I look forward to the week’s events and the preparation that goes into it. The camaraderie, enthusiasm, pride, memories, and lack of sleep are what make Greek Week great.

And even though last Sunday’s opening ceremonies was one of the longest days of my life, and I have been getting on average about four hours of sleep per night because of put off homework and late Lip Sync practice, I know deep down I wouldn’t have it any other way. Although collectively as Greeks we may complain a little about attendance, argue the rules of certain events, or the fact that a few people tried to drown others in water polo on Tuesday, we are a close-knit community. We work together to accomplish service and promote a positive attitude for John Carroll and campus life through community engagement and service.

That’s what great about Carroll. You can make a difference with the things you’re involved in. And that doesn’t just include Greek Life. Lots of the varsity athletes do community service and business majors participated in the Boler Community day last Friday. The language clubs are always publicizing late night events and the student government and programming board try to make everyone engaged and happy. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you enjoy it and respect others in their efforts to have fun and make a difference as well.

In closing I would just like to say to my fellow Greeks, I hope you’ve had fun so far this week. To the rest of campus, and to anyone who is utterly annoyed with us, pay a few dollars to watch us make fools out of ourselves tomorrow night at Lip Sync. The doors open at 7:30 p.m. in Kulas and all proceeds go to Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospitals; it’ll be a good time. Go Beta, and go Greek Week.

While it may not have been worded exactly the same way, my parents used to say something like this when I would get bad anxiety over tests in high school.

Their words were just as reassuring during those years as Patton’s quote is today for me.

I can see the truth in the quote, but sometimes today’s standards have taken a toll on its reality.

I wonder if there’s truth in its meaning today when everyone is expected to go beyond the expectations to achieve certain goals.

In our 21st century, Miley Cyrus sang “Nobody’s Perfect;” Patton encouraged troops of young men to do their best in the 1940s. The words of both are inspiring and touching for those who hear them.

The problem is, we are motivated by these words yet we do not listen to them.

It has become incredibly easy to compare ourselves with one another in many ways, so we are constantly striving to be a class of flawless people.

In our perfectionist world, do we tolerate fallibility anymore?

It is clear to many John Carroll students that juggling coursework, a job and even service hours is incredibly demanding of our time.

Not only that, but we are expected to excel in each so that our resume is sheer perfection.

This puts a grueling amount of pressure on someone who can’t balance their time or becomes overwhelmed easily.  And if they give up, they’re just not cut out for success today.

In my American Christianity class a few weeks ago, we learned about the Vatican I Council of 1870, in which the Pope was decreed infallible in regard to faith and morals.  The pope could make no mistakes in these two regards.

The lecture got me thinking about this fallibility, how it is tied to the character of an individual, and its proximity to our lifestyles today.

Sadly, we are being raised to the same standard the pope is in terms of our lifestyle. Much like the pope, we have the entire world watching and comparing us to others who may be better.

The Holy Father may have the advantage of accomplishing this characteristic, but not everybody is going to be blessed with such luck.

It’s time we acknowledge this fact, and accept fallibility as not the antonym of perfection but as a part of life.

Mr. or Mrs. Impeccable may seem flawless to you, but they are most likely struggling with their own desire to be perfect. It is this idea that should be understood.

Each person we compare ourselves to or strive to reach their level of perfection is most likely in the same exact boat; we’re just too concerned about our own perfection to know it.

In a way, it’s a reassuring idea, but it doesn’t take away from the reality that perfection is still something that is unachievable.

We won’t understand this until we actually believe in the words of Patton and accept that our best is enough.

They are always around to offer wise advice. They make the best food. They offer comfort when you need it.

My grandfather loved to have the family over every Sunday evening for dinner at his house. We cousins would usually be playing board games or card games (recently the favorite has been Apples to Apples), or doing last-minute homework. My parents, aunts, uncles and Grandpa would be talking politics at the dinner table.

The meal often ended with a smorgasbord of Grandpa’s favorite ice creams: mint chocolate chip, panda paws, moose tracks, peanut butter cup and butter pecan. Sometimes an aunt would bring over one of Grandpa’s other favorite desserts: either peach or pecan pie. On those nights, Grandpa would grin like a kid in a candy shop.

Every time one of us came to visit Grandpa, he was sure to offer us a root beer or ginger ale, and a cookie. If we turned down his offer, he insisted that he make us a sandwich.

Many years – and Sunday dinners later – I was leaving for college. While many of my peers were eager to go off to school, I was both excited and nervous. I didn’t know what to expect. What if I hated it? Will I find friends? The future looked scary.

So when I needed a calm voice to tell me everything was going to be okay, I went to see Grandpa.

His answer to my nervousness was what he told all of his grandkids, “Keep up the good work.”

Make sure you do what you’re there for and “fill the space between your ears.”

Why do I bring up all of these stories? They help me remember my grandfather and all the great times our family spent with him.

Grandpa passed away in the middle of February. It was hard for me to grasp that the last time I saw him alive was over Christmas break. Looking at him in his casket – no matter how much I knew that his death was eventually going to come – was hard to bear.

If there’s any lesson I learned from the time I spent with my grandfather, it’s to cherish the moments you spend with your family. Remember every moment – from watching Notre Dame football and Indians games with Grandpa, to taking him to get a haircut – because it keeps the spirit of that individual alive. Let the lessons your grandparents give you influence how you live life, because they’ve probably been there and they’ve probably done that.

Whenever I see the Indians losing (like being down 14-0) or Notre Dame try to come back from a huge deficit, I’m going to ask Grandpa for a little divine intervention. Hopefully, Grandpa has enough pull with the big man upstairs.

When the going gets tough, the homework keeps piling up and the stress increases, I just think of what kind of encouragement Grandpa would give me.

Just “keep up the good work.”

People tell you college goes by in a blink of an eye, but it’s a cliché I ignored until I decided to actually blink. There’s nothing that compares to freshman year, as you come in as a naïve teenager and leave either one of two ways: 1) even more naïve than when you came in, or 2) you’ve found the person that you want to be.

I can tell you now, nothing will ever compare to second semester freshman year. I lived in Sutowski with one of the most fun and lively people I have ever met, and had a boyfriend at the time that I was completely head over heels for. We were a giant family that loved each other unconditionally.

Even then, I don’t think I really knew who I was or what I wanted. I gave up so many of my beliefs and feelings to stay in a relationship that I knew wasn’t healthy. I ate food galore and pretended that the scale didn’t actually say what it did say. In reality, I’m pretty sure I had a case of denials.

Come sophomore year, time became a bit scarcer for all of us. We were all experiencing college first hand together, and things altered. I was beginning to feel uneasy with myself, because I wasn’t quite sure who that self was. I saw others changing around me, and I was trying to avoid that sinkhole.

This is it, only weeks before senior year. Overall, I’ve learned a lot in college. We’re all finding ourselves, whether we’re making positive or negative choices along the way. And that’s exactly it, they’re our own choices. I’m not perfect, nor do I pretend to be in anyway, but I do know that I like who I’m becoming, and I’m going to continue on this positive path.

Fact of the matter is, people change in college, and usually it tends to be a forever change. Of the people I’ve met, I’ve realized some are driven, some are not. Others care only about themselves and stomp on your feelings as if they’re nonexistent. Then there are some who find who they are and don’t let go of that vision, and have a backbone so strong that no one can convince them otherwise.

I see my life as a giant timeline. All I can see is 21 years and everything prior, not even a few hours ahead of the present time. When things get hard and I want to give up, I just envision God telling me, “Hold in there, Claire,” because He can see my entire timeline.

So, don’t ever give up on who you are, and don’t let anyone else define who you are. Have faith in God, have faith in yourself and don’t be afraid of what anyone thinks; because in the end, what matters is what you think of yourself. Don’t look back on college with regret, but with a sense of realization and contentment. Before you blink, just remember to be true to yourself, and life will be something glorious. Hebrews 11:1 reads, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

When I was home for spring break, I went to mass the Sunday before Ash Wednesday undecided on what my Lenten sacrifice would be. I have gone through the Lenten classics, giving up sweets, pop, swearing, meat, certain TV channels and bread.

Sitting in the pew, the priest started talking about how we usually do the same things year after year, and we end up doing Lent our way but not God’s way. We should pray to God and ask what he wants us to give up.

Well, carrying around my Catholic guilt, I couldn’t pick something unless I prayed about it. What did God tell me? He told me the hardest thing I might ever have to give up…Facebook.

Now I am not trying to be like the prophets moaning and complaining, but I think it’s important to realize how often we look at this time of year as torturous and not as an invitation.

Giving up Facebook has not just been a sacrifice, but an invitation for me to spend more time with God. I used to spend hours, more than I would like to admit, on Facebook, and now that time is free.

At first I filled it by going on other Internet sites, which was really counterproductive. Until someone recommended a spiritual website with daily readings and reflections, and the tab that used to be Facebook on my Mac screen is now the sacredspace website.

Lenten sacrifices often become an extension of our New Year’s resolution that we failed at on week two. When we ask God for his guidance, though, it can become a tool to not only improve ourselves physically, but spiritually.

It doesn’t become about our suffering, but about the growth and strength in our relationship with God.

When I went to a funeral of a good family friend this past year, in the eulogy they talked about how the man who passed was not spiritual, but every Lent he would wash all the windows of his house on Good Friday … the thing he hated most.

Our sacrifices define us as much as our successes, so even if you haven’t chosen something yet it is not too late. There are a couple things you must do.

1) Pray about it. I challenged my mom, who has given up sweets for the past twenty plus years, to do this and she discovered God called her to do more.

2) When you pray about it, ask not what God wants you to give up, but what God wants for you. Does God want to be closer to you? More of your time, talents, voice, effort? Sometimes giving things up means doing things we might not normally do as well.

Even though I currently have over 30 notifications waiting for me to reveal on Facebook so far, I think it will be worth it in the end.

Sinatra might have made a hit off of “My Way,” but I think I’ll change my life, and start doing it God’s way.

Pegula, who is worth $3 billion dollars, takes the reins from Tom Golisano, who saved the team from bankruptcy and possibly even relocation. Buffalo is known for being a small-market team, and Golisano knew that, and it affected our personnel.

We let big names go after back-to-back runs to the conference finals because we did could not afford them, and it was a couple of painful years for Buffalo sports fans. Golisano made sure we broke even rather than won; he was business first. He remained in the shadows so as not to disrupt the transition of ownership.

Enter Pegula. First and foremost, the guy’s a fan. He’s willing to spend what it takes to field a great team. He has taken off the financial chains holding General Manager Darcy Regier back from signing and trading for expensive, good players (disclaimer: not all good players are expensive).

Pegula made and founded East Resources, a natural gas drilling company. “If I wanna make money, I’ll go drill a gas well,” he said at his first Sabres press conference in response to a question regarding financial commitment to the team. And most importantly, the new owner said, “The Buffalo Sabres’ sole reason for existence is to win a Stanley Cup.”

Sabres fans have been celebrating ever since, drooling at the prospect of winning the Stanley Cup, and shaking the ghosts that haunt Buffalo sports.

Even people who are the most pessimistic of the tortured Buffalo sports fans I know are blindly accepting the fact that we will win the Cup, perhaps even multiple ones.

And I don’t get it. Nothing against Pegula, (he’ll be the first one to tell you that spending to the cap doesn’t equate with winning) but there is still so much to be proved.

Sure the Sabres made a good acquisition of a scoring winger at the trade deadline in Brad Boyes, a move we would not have made in the financially conservative days of Mr. Golisano. During his press conference, he looked at Sabre legend Gilbert Perreault and said tearfully, “You’re my hero.”

Even my 86-year–old grandfather said he felt “like ten years younger” after Pegula’s press conference and the Sabres first win of his administration. It goes to show how desperate Buffalo sports fans truly are. Don’t get me wrong either, I’m probably one of the most desperate out there.

Winning the Stanley Cup is the hardest thing to do in all of sports. Hope is a great thing, but it’s also a dangerous thing. Be careful Sabres fans, we’re not in the Promised Land. Yet.

While using “curious” may not exactly be the perfect way to describe Barton’s present predicament, I thought it was somewhat fitting.  “Serious Case” or just plain old “Basket Case” would have been more appropriate.

Honestly though, I cannot hate on the girl, although she has her own mug shot to go with her DUI. In addition, “The O.C.” star made a public statement star explaining  how she entered into a psychiatric hospital last year, and got into a fight with a nurse that led to her 5150 (an involuntary psychiatric hold).

Yet despite her run-ins with the law and the mental hospital, the paparazzi have gone crazy over her weight in the past year, taking snapshots of anything and everything they can tag as cellulite. It’s saddening to mention how many times they noted her “fat” thighs. Every tabloid and issue of Us Weekly magazine  seems to have covered it.

I’m not going to leave out Perez Hilton either. Anyone who goes on Hilton’s webpage enough knows that the “Queen of All Media” rips on her every chance he gets.  In one of his more recent posts, Hilton posted a picture of Barton from behind, indicating, “What you are seeing here is Mushy and her squishy tushy.”  First reading this, it doesn’t sound that malicious, but Hilton continues with a nasty remark.  “She has nothing left to lose — except maybe some a** fat!”

Why not just give the poor girl a break?

How sad is it that I type in “Mischa Barton” into my Google Search and one of my first five choices is “Mischa Barton fat?” Or the fact that her ex-boyfriend (Brandon Davis, grandson of oil tycoon Marvin Davis) called her a heifer.

Yes, it’s a serious case that she may be a basket case at the moment.  But it’s as clear as all the Absolut Vodka that her “O.C.” character Marissa Cooper drank that Barton is the way she is because of the pressure.  Hollywood attacks her because she no longer looks like a skeleton, but now resembles a “Michelin” woman? Give me a break. I’m surprised Perez Hilton wasn’t clever enough to use Michelin Mischa.

Sure she’s not the best actress, but she can model just as well as any of those Victoria’s Secret Angels (Unfortunately, she just needs to become anorexic again to prove it).

I still don’t understand why she takes some of the roles she does.  Playing the student who has an affair with her teacher in “The Oh in Ohio” isn’t necessarily something great to put on your filmography list. As strange as Mischa Barton may be, I do feel bad for the bad rep she’s acquired because of her weight.  If she tries not to look like a basket case from now on (think Marissa Cooper, minus the drugs and alcohol), she should be in the clear.

My heart began to sink when Green Bay was up 14-0 in the first quarter. I groaned when the TV commentators said the Packers had scored 21 points off of the three Pittsburgh turnovers. I put my head in my hands when Mike Wallace couldn’t quite reach the fourth down pass from Ben Roethlisberger to effectively end the game (and the refs got it right; there was no pass interference on that play).

I couldn’t watch the celebrations, the post-game interviews or analysis. I could hear the cheers of Browns fans rooting for the Packers in my head: “Thank God the Steelers didn’t win.”

People back home in Erie ask me how I handle all the Browns fans while going to school in Cleveland, and I tell them that it really isn’t that bad. There are some rare moments where it’s tough, like Dec 10, 2009.

Steelers fans are pretty confident each week of the NFL season that their team is going to win. Why shouldn’t we be? Pittsburgh has a good core of players. Ben Roethlisberger has a history of coming up in the clutch. Rashard Mendenhall is growing into the physical running back the Steelers depend on to win games. The wide receivers each bring a different skill to the table, whether it’s effective blocking, speed or clutch catches.

“The Steel Curtain” is legendary for physical, defensive play, and giving opposing offenses nightmares. Troy Polamalu, even though he was not himself Sunday, is the quarterback of the defense. Linebackers Lamarr Woodley, James Harrison and Lawrence Timmons give credence to the term “Blitzburgh.” Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel (who last week had an epic beard) feast on quarterbacks and offensive linemen.

The Steelers also have a habit of shutting up loudmouth teams who come into Heinz Field thinking they can win. As a result, the Ravens and Jets were sitting on their couches watching Super Bowl XLV.

As a Polamalu jersey-wearing, Terrible Towel swinging fan, I enjoy watching the Steelers knowing the Rooney family are the owners. You want to talk about stability? Cleveland native Chuck Noll, former Browns player Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin have been the only three coaches the Steelers have needed since 1969. Since 1947, Pittsburgh has appeared in the playoffs 26 times, winning their division 20 times. The team has won the AFC championship game eight times and own six Super Bowl titles, more than any other team. The Rooney family has owned the Steelers for their entire existence. It’s the stability of the franchise that promotes its success.

Don’t worry, Browns fans. Your team will make the playoffs soon. Mike Holmgren will not steer you wrong.

Many Steelers fans joined you in anger when a certain individual, who will remain nameless, picked up and moved the team to Baltimore. They rejoiced when the Browns came back to Cleveland and renewed a classic rivalry. Some will stand and applaud when the Browns make the playoffs. I know I will (unless it’s at the Steelers’ expense).

As for this season, it was a good one. Unfortunately, the Steelers came up just short.

But enough pouting. The Penguins have a Stanley Cup to win.

July 8, 2010. That’s when it all changed for Cleveland Cavaliers fans. LeBron James was gone forever, and the aftermath was not pretty.

Losing a player like LeBron hinders your franchise and makes it more difficult to do a lot of things – like win games.

Everyone knew that the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers weren’t going to be nearly as good as they had been in previous years with LeBron, but I don’t think anyone predicted that the Cavaliers season would be this bad.

The Cavaliers have lost 21 straight games, including dropping 31 of their last 32 games overall. They’ve won only one game since Dec.2.

With an overall record of 8-40, the Cavs are the only team in the NBA without at least 11 wins, and have a record of 5-15 at home, not much better than their 3-25 record on the road.

Despite all of those statistics that prove how futile the Cavs really are, there is one statistic that ceases to amaze everyone even more: The Cavaliers have the second best home attendance in the entire NBA.

Can you believe that? The team with the worst record in the league, a team that is 5-15 at home, has the second best home attendance rating in the NBA (only behind the Chicago Bulls).

Cleveland fans have been through it all. Whether it’s “The Drive,” “The Shot,” “The Fumble,” or most recently, LeBron’s very own “The Decision,” Cleveland fans have suffered more than any other fan base in the world.

When it seems as if the world of sports had truly hit rock bottom in Cleveland, Cavaliers fans proved that Cleveland fans may be the most resilient fans in all of sports.

Shortly after LeBron ditched Cleveland, Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert publicly promised to his fans that the Cavs would win an NBA championship before LeBron would win his own title in Miami.      While anyone with common sense knows that isn’t possible, at least Cavaliers fans, and Cleveland fans in general, can pride themselves on being the most resilient, and perhaps the most diehard fans in all of America.

Cleveland fans have every right to be miserable, and no one would really blame them if they just folded the cards and gave up on the Indians, Browns and Cavaliers entirely. Rather than doing that though, the city of Cleveland refused to cower and instead proved why Cleveland fans are so great.

Sure, on the field our teams might not be the most competitive or impressive, but when it comes to the fans, there’s no questioning their heart.

For that, cheers to you, Cleveland fans.

Some, who are unfortunately deficient of intelligence, might find themselves constantly in such a condition. For that, I am sorry. However, the contentment one normally experiences doesn’t seem to do much except encourage complacency.

What could have such a dramatic impact on that state of the world? Aliens? Terrorists? Inuits?

What’s fun about this is we can cause change ourselves. How empowering! I know, I know, I still didn’t describe what I’m talking about. Precisely.

Far too often people get stuck in a sand pit that is the comfort zone. This has come from years of taking the path of least resistance. I’m in full support of efficiency in all practices of life; but what is the good of doing anything if there is no reward? Naturally, I am not only speaking of physical discomfort but emotional and intellectual turmoil.

Being the Jesuit University in Cleveland, we pride ourselves in appreciating many complex and sometimes conflicting perspectives. Yet, the populous of this university is shockingly similar. Of course it is easy to accept other viewpoints if we never have to face them.

You know that person you can’t stand and disagree with every product of their brain? You say, “enemy.” I say, “opportunity!” It is very desirable to avoid conflict and simply agree to disagree. But really, how fun is that? Besides, what ever happened to standing up for our principles and fighting to the bitter end for things we feel strongly about?

Of course, arguing whether the pizza or the calzones in the dining hall are better for you that than the other is hardly worth the effort. Either way, you’re going to need triple bypass surgery in three years. But, what has happened to quality arguments in all settings, not only the classroom? We don’t want to offend anyone by saying something politically incorrect or hurting their feelings by pointing out, with logical, supporting evidence, every way that they are deficient.

I actually find it more offensive if one says nothing, for inaction is still an action (see “Hamlet”). What I think you are communicating by not communicating is that you don’t care about my betterment. You want me to be a slug, like you. Misery does enjoy company…

Universal acceptance is quite often preached. By keeping our thoughts to ourselves, uniformity is encouraged. Ergo, we are accepting a lower standard of human by eliminating brain competition.

Oh well, you can just take a test, get a high GPA and secretly be better than everyone else. At least no one will get upset at you.

The catch is however, each gift shouldn’t have to cost you anything but your time. Most of us have already purchased holiday gifts for family members and friends. This type of gift isn’t the tangible kind, but the type expressed through action.  Below are ideas to follow should you decide to make others feel special for 12 days of Christmas.

1) Shovel the driveway of a grandparent or elderly neighbor.  This Cleveland weather is not only a struggle for those who forgot to waterproof their Ugg boots. Helping out senior citizens by shoveling the snow for them is a genuine holiday gesture.

2) Donating old toys and books to a charity.  Charitable groups such as the Salvation Army, Goodwill and the Ronald McDonald House accept toy donations for young children. So while some of us are receiving Apple’s latest “toys,” we can offer up our old Thomas the Tank Engine and Polly Pockets to children in need.

3) Visit the Ronald McDonald House. Schedule a date for one of the 12 days to volunteer to prepare a meal for the families staying there. After a long day at the hospital, who wouldn’t appreciate a nice home-cooked meal?

4) Help out in the kitchen.  This one’s not only for you, ladies.  Whoever is working in the kitchen during the holidays could always use a little help before and after the meal.

5) Be someone else’s Santa’s helper. Help someone else wrap gifts. That’s why Santa has elves.

6) Return and purchase. Take one of the gifts you received, return it, and buy something for someone else.

7) Have a Secret Santa among close friends and/or family. The gifts must have meaning, but you cannot spend any money.

Go to the library, rent “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and watch it with someone you care about.

9) Give the gift that continues to give: donate your old coats, hats, gloves and scarves to Coats for Kids.

10) Carroll Caroler: Belt out your favorite holiday tunes at a local retirement home or hospital.

11) Create homemade Christmas cards for soldiers via the Red Cross’s “Holiday Mail for Heroes.” (Cards must be postmarked no later than Dec 10.)

12) Help transport Christmas gifts to families for an organization looking for volunteers.

Hopefully, this wasn’t too much preaching on my part. Nobody has to do this, but to those who do, may it instill warmness in your heart and a smile on your face. Happy Holidays!

However, these are just a few of the many reasons why Thanksgiving is so wonderful. I don’t know if you have ever thought about how awesome Thanksgiving truly is, but here is some of my top corroborating evidence. 

First of all, we get to eat. A lot.  There is nothing better than walking into Grandma’s house in the early afternoon to the smell of turkey and mashed potatoes. But, most importantly, we get to eat stuffing. Now, you may be a little offended that I’m more excited for a side-dish over the main bird, but hear me out. Yes, turkey is great, and I love sweet potatoes and corn. And green bean casserole is delicious as well; but I can get those dishes more than once a year. For some reason, the best part of the Thanksgiving meal, the stuffing, is one of those celebrity side dishes that only makes an appearance on Thanksgiving Day. I can’t wait. 

Second, we get to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the national dog show, followed by football. I don’t know if you can beat a TV line-up with Al Roker making cheesy float jokes, little terriers peeing on stage and America’s favorite sport. I don’t know about your family, but those staples of Thanksgiving Day television are always on in the background of whatever we’re doing. 

And third, Christmas music is now acceptable to play 24/7 until Dec. 25. I don’t know why 106.5 FM decided to break this rule by starting to play Christmas tunes so early, but after Thanksgiving I can no longer be annoyed by them. 

In all seriousness, Thanksgiving truly is my favorite holiday. I think it’s because of the true meaning behind it. It is a day scheduled into our calendars that is dedicated to refraining from activity and reflecting on the blessings that we have in our lives. 

Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be just once a year though. We should be thankful for life, good health and happiness every day. However, there’s something that can get in the way of that. That something is college expectation.

 As college students in the 21st century it’s expected of us (or at least I expect it of myself) to do well in class, stay active in sports and organizations and hold down a job, all the while maintaining a social life that I can be proud of. 

Those things can take work, which can cause a lot of anxiety and stress for some people. To combat this stress, it is imperative that more than once in a while we take a breather. 

Take a breather and look at the big picture – You are alive, you have friends that care about you, and you have the power to make a difference.

Try to take a moment every day, be it walking to class, waiting in line to swipe your card at the dining hall or while you’re getting ready to go out, to take a step back and give thanks for the blessings you’ve been given.