After attending the University for three-and-a-half years, it seems that every spring semester is very similar to the spring semester of the previous year. It’s always cold, and it always snows. The bar formerly known as R&R;’s says it is almost ready for business, but never opens its doors. We go out drinking early in the morning on that one Friday before March 17, but last year we had to change the date so the kids visiting campus wouldn’t be scared. The men’s basketball team is always very good but can’t quite make it to the Final Four.

I believe this semester, however, can be different. The following is a wish list that can make this spring semester better than three previous spring semesters I’ve experienced here at U of I.

Two words: plows, salt. I’m a realist. I know this is the Midwest and it isn’t going to be 80 degrees in January. However, I’m not sure the city of Champaign has figured out that it’s located in central Illinois and not the French West Indies. For a campus that is supposedly “pedestrian friendly” it sure is difficult to move around in the winter. Why? Because when a January blizzard hits, the snow isn’t removed until the sun comes out – in April. The solution is simple: Buy trucks. Buy plows. Buy salt. Put plows on front of trucks. Put salt in back of trucks. Drive trucks. Move snow. Drop salt. Maybe the Vicodin from my recent wisdom teeth extraction is clouding my thinking, but this doesn’t sound too difficult. Although, for a city that doesn’t even have a recycling program, I’m probably asking for way too much.

If you say you’re going to open for business, then actually open for business. Firehaus, the bar that cried wolf, claims it is opening “soon” and is (gasp) accepting applications for employment. I know, you’ve heard this one before, but after walking down Sixth Street on New Years’ Day, it appears that some semblance of a business is actually taking shape. I just hope that before I graduate, I can once again enjoy a shark bowl while the entire bar sings Don McLean’s “American Pie” on Mug Night.

I drink at 8 a.m. How exactly does this bother you? On my first “Unofficial St. Patrick’s Day” in 2002, I was appalled at how a person could wake up so early in the morning to drink without watching football. When I did it for myself, however, I realized that it wasn’t so bad. Green Old Style as the sun comes up is quite refreshing. Last year, the campus bars decided to move “Unofficial” to a different week so it wouldn’t coincide with Engineering Open House. Maybe the hundreds of high school kids and their parents visiting campus didn’t want to be traumatized by the thousands of college students out partying in the middle of the day. Hogwash. I say let these future scientists of America see what it’s like to have a good time. It’ll be a happy memory when they’re stowed away in some underground laboratory 15 years from now.

Meet me in St. Louie. Because I grew up in the north suburbs, I’m partial to my native Chi-town. However, I’ve been to many cities in the United States, and this year’s NCAA Final Four host, St. Louis, is one of my five favorites. Now, St. Louis easily could become my second favorite if it is painted orange the first weekend in April. Sixteen years ago, the Illini men’s basketball team started the season 17-0 and they made it to the Final Four. This year’s team currently is 17-0 and ranked first in the country. The Big Ten titles and Sweet Sixteen appearances have been nice, but this is the year to shoot for the title.

Of course, the season, like the semester, still has a long way to go – which only means there is plenty of time for these wishes to be granted.