Loyola Greyhound

The leading Catholic comprehensive university in the nation. As Friday's designation convocation neared completion, Fr. Linnane resounded a triumphant note in his closing remarks, proclaiming proudly that it will be "fact": Loyola University will become the leading Catholic comprehensive university in the nation.

I don't know what it is about him, but Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela, always seems to catch my ear when he speaks at high-profile events around the world. Always one for the headlines, he made yet another noteworthy one-liner last week in front of the U.

Future lawyers may be shocked to find out that the historically "safe" field of law is now suffering more profoundly from the recession than many other lines of work are. Pre-law students generally consider the hundreds of thousands of dollars that go into a legal education as an investment into their futures that will be repaid rather quickly once they are in the high-paying corporate law professions.

As of October 1, Loyola students might want to think twice about texting while driving to Chipotle. A new Maryland state law makes it illegal for anyone to write or send text messages while driving a motor vehicle. Any motorists caught texting by police face not only a $500 fine, but also a misdemeanor charge if convicted.

Does any one else find it weird that President Obama flew to Copenhagen to push - unsuccessfully -- for Chicago's 2016 summer games bid? I love the Olympics as much as the next person -- with that recognizable NBC Olympiad music, Bob Costas and all those underage gymnasts -- but is it really necessary for the President of the United States, the leader of the free world, to fly to Copenhagen and plea in front of a bunch of corrupt, overpaid officials, for them? The Olympics seem a bit trivial at this point.

On June 28, 2009, President Manuel Zelaya of Honduras was ousted in the first Central American military coup since the end of the Cold War. The coup, which is heavily criticized by the international community, has provoked a crisis that keeps worsening as Zelaya and the de facto president, Roberto Micheletti, continue a power-hungry struggle to retain political control.

Obama has eight main goals in his plan for healthcare: to reduce long-term growth of costs, to protect family from bankruptcy or debt due to health care costs, to guarantee a choice of doctors and health care plans, to invest in preventative care and wellness, to improve patient safety and the quality of care, to assure affordable quality health for all Americans, to maintain coverage when you change or lose your job, and to allow an option for people with pre-existing medical conditions.

Stimulus packages in the past couple years have been pretty straightforward: jump-start the economy. Whether this was done through tax cuts (the Bush tax cuts) or government programs (President Obama's stimulus package and Cash for Clunkers) is no matter since both of these programs eventually "run out.

Sundays are changing here at Loyola. The NFL has made its claim and now students can be seen wearing their favorite team's logo over their adrenaline-circulating hearts on game day, cocky with the confidence that their hometown boys are the best on the gridiron.

Last year, as a freshman living in Butler, the walk from my room to main campus was a simple, uncomplicated process. A gentle slope, a slight bend, a few steps here and there, and of course, at certain times, an unwelcome mob of indistinguishable faces that undoubtedly were scrutinizing me with the same brutal examination I discreetly paid them.

Thumbs Up: To supporting Swallows, so it doesn't close forever. To a fun-filled Fells Fest. To "Inside Loyola," a great resource for current students: Thumbs Down To surprise room inspections...for seniors. To the smell of the Indian food in the Student Center.

Thumbs Up Parents' Weekend was a success! Great things happened. They brought your favorite shirt you forgot at home, they gave you and your abandoned roommate a good meal, and most of all, they brought you their love! We at Thumbs in the past were not the biggest fans of the name change, but we decided to give in and give the ol' university a shot .