We've all noticed that eating CAS food is hitting harder on the wallet this year. Not that I didn't see this coming-the prices of food like milk, cheese and bread have gone up significantly the past few months. What really bothers me about the price increase is this: Portions have decreased, quality has suffered, and service is going down the tubes.

Requirements and curriculums have structured our formal education since we were young. They set guidelines for teachers, goals for students and establish a certain quality to the overall learning experience.

Turning 18 comes with a lot of privileges - we can buy tobacco products, lottery tickets, pornography and even sign forms that our parents used to have to sign for us.

It seems no matter where I go these days I can count on being witness to a variety of irksome behaviors of the people around me. Laziness, rudeness and a lack of consideration for others are evident all around, from the supermarket to the shower stalls.

The presidential primaries of 2008 are proving to be some of the most pivotal in history, setting the stage for an exciting election. The two leading Democratic candidates are breaking ground that has never even been cracked before, just by running.

People will say what they will about the recent Halloween costume offenses. In one sense, I see it as something positive - something that has provoked a forum to discuss touchy subjects like racism and race degradation. It provides an opportunity for people with different views to communicate and reach a level of understanding and respect.

Sex: This once taboo subject has become anything but. We live in a society in which the birds and the bees are no mystery to the youth of America, as sex exists in abundance in film, television, music and advertisements.

When it was first publicized that the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, was coming to New York to address the U.N. General Assembly and wished to make a stop at Ground Zero to lay a wreath to "pay his respects to the victims of the 9/11 tragedy," most of America was appalled.

After the tragic events at Virginia Tech this past April, colleges and universities across the nation have vowed to evaluate and improve campus security for the safety of their students, faculty and staff. In his message to the Geneseo community following the Virginia Tech massacre, President Dahl made the following statement: "When tragic events like this happen, members of the senior administration analyze the information to determine what we can learn to enhance our own policies and responsiveness."

As the second week of the new school year comes to a close, I can say I've gotten a pretty comprehensive view of life at Geneseo: uphill walks to class, dorm bathrooms - complete with remnants of puke in the sink - and a fair share of typical college parties. Of course, more importantly, I've gotten a taste of the enriching educational experience Geneseo has to offer. To further enhance this educational experience, Geneseo has, and flamboyantly advertises, a wide array of clubs, organizations, sports and activities for students to get involved in.