* The most prominent news this year was without a doubt the murder of Uri Sellers during the 75th Veishea celebration. While we were saddened by his death, it has given us reason to review how ISU students party, especially when our town doubles in size. He was a great human being, and although we didn’t know him well, we will miss him.

* Deantrious Mitchell made headlines last semester when he falsely claimed eight students attacked him while he was doing rounds near Clyde-Williams Field. He was later convicted. Today, Mitchell continues to pursue his studies at Iowa State.

* After 22 years, students finally got their way when Cyclone Stadium was renamed Jack Trice Stadium by the state Board of Regents. Jack Trice is an Iowa State legend whose actions on and off the playing field should teach us all something about perseverance despite the odds.

* Three black student leaders were barred from their campus offices for participating in an unauthorized rally in Beardshear Hall. Five other students also faced closed hearings for their parts in the rally, and together they became known as the Beardshear Eight. Thank goodness administrators came to their senses and reduced the sanctions against the three students, but it was wrong for the university to force these eight students to have closed hearings when the students were asking for open hearings.

* Last fall’s Theta Chi fire destroyed the house, its history and the memories it has held for many past and current members. But this tragedy forced members to come to terms with starting over in the middle of the school year. It has been a tough transition, but we hope it has made Theta Chi a stronger fraternity.

* Who can forget Troy “The Main Man” Davis? ISU’s superstar left the university at the end of last semester to pursue a National Football League career. That, of course, was after Davis racked up his second-straight 2,000-yard season, an NCAA first, and finished second in Heisman Trophy balloting. Davis was chosen in the third round of the NFL draft. He’ll be playing for Mike Ditka’s Saints in the fall.

* ISU’s men and women’s basketball teams can’t be forgotten. Both teams made it to the NCAA tournaments — the women, for the first time in history, and the men launched themselves into the Sweet Sixteen. It feels good to be a Cyclone.

* Government of the Student Body — whether we’ve agreed with it or not, the GSB has been a source of big news stories this year. Here are a few of the hot topics:

Specialty seats on the Senate: Though several senators claim they’re not needed, we say they are. Elections, both the GSB election and the infamous mock election last fall, proved that only a handful of the student body cares enough to vote. Constitutional Convention.: It was a great idea but lack of support made a year of work void.

* Commercialization without representation: A favorite cry of campus activists early last fall when the university proposed putting a McDonald’s smack dab in the middle of campus. It didn’t happen.

* Over 1,200 African- American college students from ISU and other Big 8 schools met in Ames in February for the Big 8 Conference on Black Student Government. The event worked to motivate and network black students to be powerful and influential voices on their campuses.

* Tom Thielen will retire on May 31 after 20 years at Iowa State. The former Vice President of Student Affairs will leave big shoes to fill come the end of this year.

* The Black Cultural Center received a face life because of much hard work and financial generosity. It stands as an example of what can be done once one’s mind is put to the task and teamwork isn’t exhausted.

* Just when we thought the year would end smoothly, the ISU solar car team had a life-threatening accident on its way back from Mesa, Ariz. Thankfully, everyone survived, but our thoughts are with the members of Team PrISUm who are still hospitalized. Get well soon.