It’s hard to believe that the semester is almost over, and if you think about it, it’s even harder to believe how much the world has changed in that time.

From the big world we live in to our own little world here at Iowa State, our lives are different than they were four months ago, though it may be hard to notice at first glance.

It’s kind of like a clock in that respect — you don’t see the movement when you look at one, but half an hour later the hands have changed.

Take a moment and consider all that’s happened this semester:

Students, faculty and Ames residents wrestled with the idea of having a strip club in Campustown. The idea stirred up a lot of emotion in a lot of people, but no club actually ever appeared in the area.

Iowa State said goodbye to long-time administrator Reid Crawford. Crawford, the vice president for external affairs, resigned after taking a position at the University of Maryland.

ISU paid its last respects to renowned English Professor Lee Hadley. Professor Hadley, a writer of young-adult novels and a well-respected professor, died of cancer in August.

Puerto Rican students at ISU gather to pray and offer support for each other while Hurricane Luis pelted the Caribbean.

After 11 years at the helm of ISU’s baseball program, coach Bobby Randall resigned to take over as head coach at Kansas.

A University of Iowa freshman died after a night of drinking at a party. The death forced the greek systems at Iowa and Iowa State to take a hard look at their drinking policies.

On the football field, the Hawkeyes beat the Cyclones for the 13th straight year. Some things never change, I guess.

Former ISU basketball heroes Fred Hoiberg and Loren Meyer began their careers in the NBA.

The state Board of Regents accepted a tuition hike of 3.5 percent — the lowest increase in years.

Jurors in the O.J. Simpson murder case reached a not guilty verdict, ending one of the most publicized and controversial trials in U.S. history.

Hundreds of thousands of African Americans converged on the nation’s capital for a march to foster black unity and pride.

The world reacted with shock when Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated after speaking at a peace rally. Leaders and dignitaries from around the world attended the fallen leader’s funeral.

Campus radio station KUSR fell silent after disputes arose about the station’s wattage and broadcasting frequency. Station officials hope to be up and running again by the spring semester.

ISU football tailback Troy Davis brought national attention to the Cyclone football program. Davis became only the fifth college football sophomore to rush for more than 2,000 yards in one season. Davis also became the first-ever Cyclone to be invited to New York City as a finalist for the coveted Heisman Trophy.

All this occurred in just over four months time. Add all the changes that have taken place in our personal lives over that time as well, and you realize that our lives and the world we live in are changing very, very fast.

It’s an exciting thought to ponder. It’s even more exciting to wonder what events will occur next semester and in the many semesters that follow. If the past is any judge, the future holds many possibilities, hopes, sorrows, surprises and revelations. But all of that remains to be seen.

For now, one more chapter in the history of our lives, Iowa State University and the world has been written. At some times it was good. At other times it was bad. But at all times it was interesting.

Have a happy holiday.

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Troy McCullough is a senior in journalism mass communication from Pleasantville. He is the editor in chief of the Daily.