Thank goodness for dead week. I used to hate dead week. I thought it was the most ironic tool of all evil professors: Students thought the “Dead” part of the week meant no homework or projects, but it actually means students will be “dead” after they finish everything professors assign for the week.

I still think this, but I’ve realized that the professors who do it aren’t evil — they’re 100- or 200-level teachers who enjoy playing with the minds of freshmen and sophomores.

Now that I’m a senior, I see things differently. I realize that the last two weeks of a semester are actually the best of the year, at least for liberal arts majors (especially those taking very few classes — like me!).

I don’t have any big projects these next two weeks. My one term paper this semester was due the day after Thanksgiving break (not that I turned it in then), and both of my finals are non-comprehensive.

Journalism and political science — it’s the way to go, baby.

(Note to all journalism and political science professors, particularly those I have next semester: Your classes are all very stimulating, and I have the highest regard for you as teachers. You are BETTER professors because of your lack of comprehensive tests.)

Anyway, now that dead week is here, I can relax and concentrate on the things that are really important, like writing the correct date on Daily pages and watching my kitten chase ping-pong balls through our living room for hours at a time.

And, I can sit back and reflect on the events that shaped our campus this semester. Won’t you reflect with me?

1. The Veishea debate.

It’s interesting every year, but this year there was an added twist, with several campus organizations coming close to turning down the ISU administration’s ultimatum of dry Veishea or no Veishea.

Last year, GSB et al passed dry Veishea with nary a second thought. This year, some of our representatives decided they were tired of the university deciding for them how to behave, and they put up a bit of a fight to the new rules.

The votes in each organization were still overwhelmingly in favor of accepting the administration’s rules, but at least some students spoke their minds and sparked intelligent debate, something that just doesn’t happen enough around here.

2. ISU receives $80 million.

The College of Agriculture received an

“anonymous” donation of $80 million in September.

The gift was the largest ever to any Iowa college or university and the 26th largest to any institution in the United States.

Who knows how anyone can ever have enough money to just give away $80 million, but ag students will be thankful to the anonymous donors for years to come.

3. The Department of Residence: Maple Hall.

Maple Hall opened its newly renovated doors this fall to praise and criticism. Some students, especially those who live there, loved the privacy and the extra space. Other students, particularly those who don’t live there, were dismayed by the new rules and regulations.

I still believe that the design of Maple Hall, with semi-private bathrooms and kitchens on every floor, destroys the sense of community that is necessary in a dorm. The things that students complain about every day — food service, bathrooms down the hall, small rooms — are the things that unite us and build community within a floor.

I understand the Department of Residence’s point of view, but I still wish Maple Hall were not the way it is.

4. The Department of Residence: communicating with students.

Aside from Maple Hall, there have been some serious problems within the residence department in terms of communication.

Several changes this year, including Student Security alterations, CyRide funding cuts and the 24-hour policy, caused an uproar among some students because they were not explained to us. I don’t think the DOR did that on purpose, but those lapses in communication underscored the need to let students know everything that’s going on.

IRHA took a great step toward fixing that problem by voting Thursday night to see all changes in the Terms and Conditions contract before the end of the year. Hopefully, that will prevent any future surprises.

5. Cyclone football.

So much promise. So much potential. So much heartache.

What else needs to be said?

6. Politics on campus.

Not only was there a city election this November, but countless political figures have visited ISU in preparation for the 2000 elections.

Every presidential hopeful except John McCain has been on campus in the last five months — from August’s Republican straw poll to Bill Bradley campaigning in Ames for now-state Rep. Jane Greimann.

And the best thing is, with the caucuses just around the corner, politics on campus will only get better.

7. Howe Hall opens to fanfare.

Almost 1,000 students, faculty and staff danced the night away Oct. 25 to mark the opening of Howe Hall, a $32-million engineering building.

Even though the event was prematurely called a “Millennium Ball,” it was a great way for all members of the ISU community to get together and check out the new building.

8. Illegal immigrants discovered at Howe Hall.

Only two weeks after the “Millennium Ball,” four illegal immigrants were found working at the Howe Hall construction site. The men admitted being in Iowa without their green cards and immediately went back to Mexico. It’s still not clear whether the company in charge of construction on the building knowingly employed the illegal immigrants.

9. Phish phans phrenzy.

When Phish came to Hilton in October, no one was expecting the reaction from the band’s fans.

A total of 57 arrests were reported during the weekend, many of them drug-related charges, and most of them of Phish fans.

The number of altercations prompted Ames Police Chief Dennis Ballantine to say he never wanted Phish to return to Ames.

10. I survived the semester.

This final point may not mean much to anyone else, but there were many times this fall when I didn’t think I would make it. But thanks to very understanding friends and family, I kept my sanity.

I also need to thank the amazing, dedicated staff of the Daily, for putting up with me and putting out a great publication every day of the week. Special thanks go to editors Corey Moss, Ashley Hassebroek, Olivia Ogren, Dan Farmer and Michelle Murken, who are leaving the Daily at semester. I’ll miss all of you a lot.

I hope all of you out there have enjoyed the Daily this semester — whether in appreciation of a good story or in outrage over a controversial column. Keep reading.

And enjoy your dead week.

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Sara Ziegler is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Sioux Falls, S.D. She is eagerly looking forward to celebrating the non-millennium.