As we begin another semester, our eyes are on the horizon, our thoughts are in the future and our academic goals are back on the front burner.
It’s a new year, a new term and, for some of us, a new beginning. But that doesn’t mean that we should forget to reflect on times passed.
Coming in tow with the spring semester is a new class schedule, a new head football coach and new construction projects on all of our campuses.
But, what about the things we have lost?
On Monday, William Polk Carey passed away at 81. Though the loss is a blow to the University community, Carey’s legacy will live on through the students who have been given opportunities through Carey’s philanthropic donations at business schools across the country. He will be immortalized here in Tempe, especially after the W.P. Carey School of Business’ “face-lift” is fully completed.
Over winter break, the ASU student body lost of one of its own. Journalism sophomore Daniel Kemp died on Dec. 21. He was an intern for The Arizona Republic and a volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club of Scottsdale.
ASU athletics, which has a longstanding reputation of leading the Pac-12, lost much of our Sun Devil street cred with the chaos surrounding the new football coach. Before we arrived at a final decision with Todd Graham over winter break, we saw national sports headlines mocking ASU’s indecision.
And then there’s winter break — a loss that students and faculty alike are feeling today. Most of us have yet to recover from the television-trauma induced by the 24-hour “A Christmas Story” marathon. Is it even healthy to begin reading and studying now, less than two weeks after Christmas? (It is.)
The new schedule means headaches for some, busy days for others, shorter trips back home for out-of-staters and weird class blocking for faculty. Yet there is always a silver lining. The last day of spring 2012 classes comes early, on April 24. Before you know it, summer will be here and we’ll be too busy cursing the desert heat to get upset over a lecture we wanted to take during “session A” instead of “session B.”
The optimism is all-inclusive. After reflecting and remembering all that we’ve lost, we can look forward not only to another semester but also another year. The ball dropped, but only in Times Square. May you fill your next 12 months with achievements, successes and good memories — both in and out of the classroom. Grab your pitchforks, Sun Devils: It’s the first day of Spring 2012.
Want to join the conversation? Send an email to opiniondesk.statepress@gmail.com. Keep letters under 300 words and be sure to include your university affiliation. Anonymity will not be granted.
Follow The State Press on Twitter or like us on Facebook.
