Opinion

Now that my friends and I are high tailing it out of this ol' college town this year, I've been noticing that we're trying to cling onto our old antics. Our collective fear of growing up and entering that blasted "real world" is festering inside us at such an alarming rate; we're desperately trying to stay young. And I'm not even talking about staying in college mode. Sadly, we've been trying to act like high schoolers again.

Over the year and a half I've been writing this column, I've encountered a variety of different responses. Some students have been motivated by my efforts, others have been appalled by them, but so far nothing has caught me more off guard than a displeased TGIF supporter who insisted that I smell her in the middle of a crowded Coffee House breezeway.

In addition to selecting six new ASUCD senators this week, students will also be asked to weigh in on a controversial new fee increase to establish a "Green Initiative Fund."

If passed, the measure will require students to pay an extra $4 per quarter in fees to ASUCD in order to fund a program that would give students the money to initiate sustainability projects on campus.

ASUCD senate and executive elections begin at 8 a.m. tomorrow and to help students make their selections, The California Aggie sat down with each senate and executive candidate to talk about the issues.

Congressmen are inarticulate, caustic and obtuse. It's their job, you understand. At least, the job we give them. The voter's interpretation of what to expect of federal legislators has been set adrift from their own interests. We'll gladly elect killers and thieves so long as they pay lip service to a few key sentiments to soothe our skepticism.

Well guys, tomorrow's Valentine's Day. And if you're anything like most men on February 13th, you're hopelessly without a plan and about ready to fake food poisoning.

Late last week, while Senate Democrats were busy letting Republicans castrate an already neutered stimulus plan, I got pretty agitated. Much of our generation's future, and the future of generations down the line, depends on this administration's response to the recession

There were a couple of notable recent turns of events that I could have touched on this week (i.e. high-profile scandals involving one of the following: Bruce Springsteen, Chris Brown, Christian Bale or Michael Phelps), but since it's a time-sensitive topic, I thought I'd devote my space to - surprise, surprise - Valentine's Day!

he religious, deists, agnostics and atheists all have trouble coming to terms with the meaninglessness of life. No matter where you stand on the spectrum, there is a troubling stigma associated with those who admit to having a meaningless life.

Wall Street's predicament is a lesson in overstretching limits. This is an institution that prides itself in creating wealth, moving and shaking markets, empowering people. At its very best traditions, Wall Street is a worldview - a belief that at its height, the possibilities of the human imagination are limitless.

Singles are always whining about how much they hate Valentine's Day, but think about how bad those with the old ball and chain have it. Retailers surely get a throbbing hard-on for the 14th of Feb.; I mean, seriously, look at all the crap there is to be bought.

Money can buy a lot of nookie, but it just can't buy love.

ASUCD elections are known for having low turnouts. Last year, there wasn't concern that students did not want to fund Unitrans with a fee increase - just that under 20 percent (the minimum to enact a fee increase) of the student body would vote.

A few years ago as a freshman experiencing my first winter quarter at Davis, I found myself writing this little piece about how the quarter system drives people insane.

e first time I heard Kirollos "Cookie" Gendi speak was at last year's Relay for Life, but his story is one you have to hear more than once. A few days ago, I sat across from him, listening in amazement as he cheerfully related his life-threatening struggle with cancer.

There is no greater thrill than the rush of snow skiing; rifling down a freshly powdered mountain, the wind in your face and adrenaline pumping.

But no pleasant experience comes without its price. Here are some things you should expect to face the next time you hit the slopes.