I hope everyone had a great summer. Personally, for crimes I do not pretend to comprehend, but must have committed, I was once again exiled to Lompoc, California for the summer. For those of you who do not know, Lompoc is a little-known native word that means "land of no available women" (Most people don't admit this, but I know the truth.) There, I participated in the great local pastimes of watching one's toenails grow and occasionally venturing out to the local WalMart.

        Now, I'm back in San Diego, where there is a bit more to do, but one thing has always bothered me about the beginning of the year. All those cool seniors I knew graduate, and we replace them with a bunch of freshman and transfers! What a rip-off, huh?

        In all seriousness though, it's nice to have the new blood around. This institution has an identity that changes slightly from year to year because of the energy the new arrivals bring. It's not only the corporate identity with the neighborhood that Drs. Brower and Ryan spoke about last Monday, but also that identity that we can share with each other, that comes out in our activities and in our conversations with each other. Yes, we can all grouse about the long lunch lines, but our conversations there will make memories, and maybe even a few friends.

        As to our new brethren, I don't specialize in advice. I've long maintained a Charles Barkley-esque idea that I am not, nor ever will be a role model. In fact, I advocate that anyone who emulates me in even the slightest way should be shot, half for their own protection and half for that copyright infringement thing.

        But you are in transitional times. You are brand new to a school that has just undergone a status change to university. For a lot of you, it's your first time away from home, and your first time being treated as an adult (mostly). It's going to be up to you to grab hold of this experience and make it your own.

        You're also going to have the freedom to make mistakes. But what we're all about is the opportunity to acknowledge those mistakes and correct them. We have the truth, the way, the life and the answer given to us at least three or four times a week here. You just have to accept it.

        And that is the most important choice of all.