The best of weekends, the worst of weekends

Spring is making a comeback in Bloomington and Little 5 weekend is upon us, and yes, we know it is only Wednesday. But we have reliable sources informing us that the serious partying started days ago. So as we lucky people in Bloomington gird up for "The World's Greatest College Weekend," our hearts and thoughts go out to our friends at Virginia Tech. Arguably, this will be the world's worst college weekend for the school that suffered such terrible violence and loss this week. As we walked to our car this evening, we said a cheery "Hello" to the IUB Dean of Students, Dick McKaig, who happens to be one of our favorite people on campus. Dean McKaig is a true friend to Indiana University students; we were touched to see that he was wearing a memorial ribbon in the Virginia Tech colors, because in truth he is a friend to all students. The horror at Virginia Tech has brought us stories of heroism and extreme sacrifice from some unexpected quarters. We cannot read the biography of the professor who barricaded the door with his body so his students could escape without weeping at the senseless loss of such a good person.

April is the busiest month

We, Elvis and Elvira, are trying to make it through the final month of the IU academic calendar with our faculties (ha - get it?!) intact. National decision day for next year's class of incoming freshmen is May; this translates into April being National Decision-making Month, which translates into a LOT of work for Elvis and Elvira.

There has been an awful lot going on around here:

• Student political leaders have, with the blessing and support of the administration and the city, put in a bid for the campus to host a 2008 Presidential Debate.
• The faculty have been vocal in their opposition to a statewide proposal to establish a one-man-one-woman criterion for legally recognized unions
• Two students majoring in the College were chosen as Goldwater Scholars
• The KKK (or someone claiming to have organized a group under this offensive name) says it is going to hold a march in Bloomington.

And so forth. In short - a busy end to a busy year, and we are keeping our heads down until after commencement.