It’s that time of year. The time when you hit the gym, burn those calories, shed that weight and drop all those bad habits that have been haunting you.
That’s right. It’s time for New Year’s resolutions. While we’re sure that all of you will set and accomplish ambitious yet very reachable goals for the upcoming calendar year, here are some common resolutions that the university and its students should seek to accomplish in 2011.
Get healthier/beautify: While many will see this as a call to make a trip to the Activities and Recreation Center stat, the UC Davis campus also has room for the proverbial face lift.
There are many potholes and other areas around campus that tend to inconveniently fill up with water during the rainy season, making trips to class treacherous not only for bikers trying to avoid the stripe but walkers not wearing boots. Filling those holes and evening the grounds on campus will help this. Perhaps a better drainage system is in order.
In addition, UC Davis should cut the fat and eliminate unnecessary spending. The university is known for doling out bloated salaries to new employees. This is grossly apparent in the $370,000 salary received by Harris A. Lewin, current Vice Chancellor of Research, when compared to the $237,400 of his predecessor.
Spend more time with family and friends: Maybe that annual trip to Uncle Ned’s for Christmas isn’t enough. You could make an effort to get out there more often. Or you could make an attempt to spend more time with your UC Davis family.
Root on your fellow peers by going to more Aggie athletic events. The men’s basketball team along with women’s basketball, gymnastics, swimming and water polo teams all compete primarily during the winter.
You could also join a club, play an intramural sport, go to an on-campus concert or just do anything to meet more people and make new friends.
Kick those bad habits: In the same way that many of you may want to quit smoking or stop at one piece of cheesecake, the UC has some bad habits it needs to shed.
It’s safe to say that 2010 wasn’t a good year for the UC. Students protested the second tuition hike in as many years – UC didn’t listen. Workers fought for their pensions and got the raw end of the deal.
All of these changes serve to benefit the short term in the same way a cigarette or extra dessert satiates current needs. But they hurt in the long run as in the cases of fee increases and decreased retirement plans.
Who knows? Maybe 2011 is the year the UC accomplishes these worthwhile goals.
