Thumbs Up to the football team’s magical run through the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Despite falling just short the national championship game, the football Salukis captured the hearts of many in southern Illinois, some of whom got the chance to see playoff football in December for the first time in a very long time.

What a run, guys. Be proud of what you accomplished. A team that wasn’t even picked to win the conference showed many critics they are one of the top teams in the country. It was an amazing run.

Despite losing a few keys pieces, next year’s team will be back as the Salukis always seem to re-tool. I know I’m already excited for what Coach Lennon’s 3-4 defense is going to do to the Gateway Conference opponents next season, hopefully proving that the basketball team isn’t the only team on campus that can play defense.

Thumbs Down to Mother Nature and all the wacky weather she sent us this year. I almost don’t know where to begin. Snow, ice, rain, more ice, rain, floods, an earthquake or two – you name it, we’ve seen it all in southern Illinois this school year. I’m hoping this summer doesn’t add to the insanity with a blizzard or monsoon, but with the way things have gone this year, they are definitely within the realm of possibility.

Thumbs Up to the nearly-completed renovation of Morris Library. Even though there have been some bumps in the road (trust me, with a project that big and the amount of stuff the library has, there will be bumps), everything is starting to return to normal.

The staff has done a great job and I give a lot of credit to the students for making the adjustment of not having a fully functioning library during such critical times in their academic careers, i.e. senior seminars, finals and research projects.

It hasn’t been easy, but in the long run, we made it work and next year we are going to have a beautiful, fully functioning library to show for it.

Thumbs Down to the continuing instability in some of the top positions in the university. Although this isn’t a new problem, it’s troubling to me that in my four years here as a student I’ve seen three different chancellors.

Can we please find someone who sees some longevity in that position so we can move forward instead of constantly falling behind?

I’m all for trying to find another Delyte Morris type to run the university – someone who, in 50 years, we’ll want to build a huge statue of because of how much he gave to the university.

Thumbs Up to the new, two-year agreement for the university’s Civil Service employees. So much of what they do on campus goes unnoticed by many, but they are as essential to the mission of the university as everyone else. We couldn’t do it without them.

Thumbs Up to everyone who is graduating this weekend. For some, I know they thought this day would never come. You did it, and you are now about to enter the world of a college graduate. No one can take that away from you.

Thumbs Down one last time to all you graduates not planning on attending the ceremonies.

You mean to tell me that at the end your four-, five- or six-year battle to get to this point, you aren’t going to go to the ceremony?

That’s like winning a gold medal and not showing up to hear the national anthem. This is your victory over SIU, and you should be there to walk the walk and pump your fist in the air, sing, dance or whatever it is you do after they call your name. Go to the ceremony. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Fruth is a graduate student in

curriculum and instruction.