As road crews rush frantically to finish that stretch of Highway 30 they started back in May, it is clear the fall semester is once again upon us.

U-Bills are due in a few weeks, and I need to go to the financial aid office to sign one last form.

There is so much to do, and I’ve procrastinated long enough, so there is little time to do it.

Making my way into the book store a few weeks ago, I realized there is more than other students to deal with.

The UPS strike meant that some of my books were stranded somewhere in the United States, but they definitely were not on that shelf.

I was able to find about half my books, and only one was used.

Plus, being an art major means I will have to deal with the book store once more this week as I try to find all my precious art supplies. Books are the least of my worries.

The beginning of a new school year has other obligations to attend to as well.

It’s time for mass e-mails informing friends and old classmates of my new home so they can drop in unexpectedly.

It is also time to track down those friends who are going to DMACC because they didn’t quite have the GPA last semester to make it back.

The most difficult to locate are those who have joined the work force or changed schools over the summer.

Unless your mom knows their grandmothers who can find out from their moms, you are just going to have to wait until the five-year class reunion.

The new school year means it’s time to reprogram my car radio as well.

The KURE radio station should be back to full operation within the first few weeks.

Lazer 103.3 and The Dot are there if nothing else is on. And I always add WOI for a touch of culture in the radio diet.

Speaking of KURE, I need to get in touch with my cohort in crime for our show Tuesday nights from 6 to 9 — not to mention figuring out how to get there on time from class.

The restart of school means the Maintenance Shop is open again.

Time for me to check out what is coming to Ames in September. I will need to get my tickets soon for Stuart Davis and House of Large Sizes.

Finding time to get a healthy dose of mindless television will be a struggle. I hope I am not denied the loss of my brain cells.

Change is part of every new school year; my classes, my new home, even Campustown.

Throughout the summer, Campustown has had a number of subtle changes.

The Peaceful Fool is gone, replaced by a carbon copy, but it still is different.

Mr. Goodcents has moved to the other side of town. Jordan’s Chicago Style Hot Dogs has moved into the old Mr. Goodcents location.

The old Kinko’s building is even being used again. Peoples Theater still is not operational, but I hope it will be done this fall.

Another change in Campustown since students have returned is that fast food restaurants are open late again.

Over the summer, any cravings had to make themselves known by 10 p.m. or I was out of luck.

Now, I can get cinnamon twists at 1 a.m. again!

Because I have so much to get done, I hardly have time to check where my classes are.

Those 10 minutes between classes will be chaotic. Who knows what my teachers will be like? I’ve heard horror stories about some of them already.

Not to mention I still need to find a job to pay all my expenses — as if college life were not hectic enough.

The beginning of the school year is lacking one thing: something to have a great and mighty opinion about.

Everything I was upset about last spring has been resolved or placed on the back burner. Anything from over the summer is old news already, too. In the last week, not much has happened on campus to get my attention either.

I suppose it’s time for yet another year.

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Andrew Seitz is a junior in drawing, painting and printmaking from Dyersville.