To my dear readers

Something once in a lifetime happened to me. And no matter how much longer I have on this planet, I’ll never have another such experience.  I celebrated my golden birthday this year.  And it wasn’t just any birthday; it was my golden 21st birthday.
 
Yes, it was a big day, but I didn’t really reflect on its significance because, well, when it was happening, I wasn’t in the clearest frame of mind, and when it was over, I wasn’t really in the mood to think. That, and I was definitely more concerned with the re-telling of the ridiculous stories and, three days later, I was far too busy scarfing down a massive stuffed bird. 

When I got back to school, all I wanted to do was re-live the celebration all over again. But now, as my opinion editor position comes to an end, and I’ve reached my milestone of adulthood on a rather momentous occasion, I can’t help but feel the desperate need to offer some words of reflection to you, my fellow readers. 

I’ve written on quite a few topics this fall, on issues as serious as Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit’s release and IU student Lauren Spierer’s disappearance to subjects as eccentric as pudding wrestling, the unmistakable anatomy of a freshman and, of course, the extremely illogical IU B bus route. 

All in all, this semester has been analogous with one conscious thought spasm complete with moments of breakthrough rage and hysteria. And, now that I’ve reached the age where I am deemed a fully-functional legal citizen, I thought I’d offer a more seasoned stance on the columns I’ve written this semester.

 Yes, I still believe pudding is one of the most versatile desserts/weapons I’ve encountered this year. I am open for more suggestions, but Jell-O is far too solid and cake has a mostly splatter-proof consistency which fails to provide the same satisfaction as a sloppy pudding mess.

Yes, I still believe the campus bus system can do more to help the students at IU get home safely and securely. I still hold the opinion that safety is more important than convenience and efficiency.

I acknowledge that some readers found my views on the subject to sound more like of a rant against convenience than safety, but I assure you, commenter Eric Jones, when Bloomington has so many reasons to be deemed “unsafe,” this is one easily implementable change that could reassure concerned students.

Yes, I still believe Gilad Shalit’s swap with more than a thousand Palestinian prisoners may have been unjustified. But I also believe my perspectives are narrow given my limited education and experience with Israeli politics and international affairs.

I could certainly benefit from speaking with local Israeli citizens and politicians to gain a more credible, educated opinion. And I plan to do it. Next semester, I will be in Israel studying at Tel Aviv University.

Yes, I still believe some of the answers to Lauren Spierer’s disappearance lie in the deafening silence of a few IU students. Until students come forward to assist the police,  Spierer’s family will needlessly suffer.

I won’t be around next semester to further build upon these opinions, but I am confident the future IDS opinion staff will continue to question these inquisitive subjects. 

Best of luck to the spring semester’s opinion editors Francisco Tirado and Patrick Beane.

­— esalomon@indiana.edu