New-school-year resolutions

Students' internal clocks are not run by the sun and the stars. We don't wake up just because we have class at noon, we don't turn down our music just because our neighbors are sleeping, and we don't rely on any anniversaries or solstices to tell us when we can and cannot have festivals.

The same holds true for our New Year: January 1 means hangovers and bowl games, not reflection and self-improvement. For a student, that reinvigorating inventory of things-to-do comes with the start of a new school year--September 27 is our January 1.

Without further introduction, here"s a sample list of student new school year resolutions to get you motivated to make the most out of your college experience:

Put the stud in student-athlete:

-Participate in IMA league sports. Winners get a free T-shirt-- but don't expect anything if you"re playing co-ed softball. The rest of Athletic Supporters and I will be seeking to expand on our dynasty with our fourth consecutive championship (go Ass'z!).

-Camp out for a Husky basketball game and heckle the opposing coach. You'd be surprised at how much witty vulgarity you can come up with after only three hours of sleep.

-Skinny dip in the Arboretum. I recommend doing it soon, as the water is only going to get colder from here on out. Rent a canoe from behind Husky Stadium and make it happen.

-Walk to Dicks. You're going to eat like crap anyway, but at least you could combat that freshman 15 with some fresh air and a walk down 45th Avenue Northeast.

Be open-minded

-Go to the Ave

I'm talking to the unadventurous who spend all their time in University Village. You get to spend the rest of your life going to QFC and malls in the suburbs. Get some urban experience on the Ave, and see the closest thing our ivory towers have to the real world.

-Stop to listen to (then argue with) each "tabler" in front of the HUB. Most of these people are not crazy. Rather, they are using their free time to promote a cause with a level of commitment and passion you have to respect. Still, when you get to the LaRouche crazies, feel free to do your best chicken dance, like Gob in Arrested Development.

-Watch Arrested Development, Season 3, Episode 1, so you understand the previous comment.

Make the world a better place:

-Dedicate some time to help a political candidate you support. For instance, you could take the 271 Metro bus to Bellevue and volunteer for Democrat Darcy Burner as she tries to upset Rep. Dave "Rubber Stamp" Reichert in the 8th Congressional District elections.

-More locally, bring ideas to ASUW. Much like John Edwards" Two Americas, we have two UWs: the 99 percent of Huskies who complain about campus, and the 1 percent who are doing something about it. Unfortunately, the ASUW doers are caught up in their tiny student government bubble and they need new ideas from you.

-Also, do NOT raise your hand during a 100-plus person lecture. No one will like you. The professor was joking when he wrote, "Please interrupt me" in the syllabus.

Promote Campus Community:

-Steal a composite from a fraternity or sorority if you're in the residence halls just to show that you don't need to be in the Greek system to break, enter and party. If you are Greek, pick an RA in a dorm and make it your duty to torment them for a night.

-Unplug your video games. Most are not only lame, but also quite irritating for roommates who might be studying to the sounds of "KABOOM! Triple kill!"

-Hit on the hottest girl or guy in your class"no regrets, and you never know.

Academic Excellence:

-Read the New York Times. Staying up to date on current events will keep you awake through your boring theory classes, and your professors' weird jokes will finally have some context.

-Seriously, take the most interesting-sounding class outside of your major. It will make the schooling aspect of school something to look forward to. Plus, there is nothing sadder than a graduating business major who never went south of Balmer.

The campus and surrounding community is full of opportunities for fantastic college fun. Instead of plastering your room with Post-its of things you want to do, just do them. These are the fastest four years of our lives, and before we know it, the end of another school year will be here. So get busy.

Ben Golden: bengolden@thedaily.washington.edu