The fourth incarnation of G.R.E.A.T. Day provided students with opportunities to expand their horizons, stretch the capabilities of their minds and experience the world around them in a whole new way.
As it turns out, many students found plenty of enlightenment without attending a single presentation.
To be blunt, the fact that this year's annual celebration of student research - a class-free Tuesday - fell on the day associated with smoking marijuana was no misfortune at all. The greatest thing about G.R.E.A.T. Day was that in an era of over-scheduling and under-sleeping, each and every student had time to be whatever they wanted to be.
Eight hundred and thirty-three students presented works of research, art and accomplishment; many were genuinely impressive and these students of all majors and backgrounds should be proud to show off the culmination of their efforts.
Some students came out and made an effort to learn a thing or two, whether to support friends, earn extra credit or seek inspiration for future research of their own. Others used the day off as a chance to gather with friends or take a trip off campus. Still more caught up on overdue work or got ahead on the pre-finals week crunch.
And then there were those who did drugs all day.
There are some very serious problems with making a habit of indulging in substance use, but this Tuesday, the essence of college, for better or worse, could be found everywhere - in cheap drinks, musical collaborations, scientific hypotheses, friendships, lectures, literary analyses, special brownies, discoveries, dances, history papers, critical evaluations, carefree adventures, experimental designs and more. There may have been smoke, but there were no mirrors - it was the real thing.
While we sincerely hope that students found a way to make it to class on Wednesday, we can't help but take a step back and admire how great a day Tuesday really was.
We saw our peers celebrate knowledge, but also life and all it can offer. We celebrated being college students.
And we think that's great.