Some will rejoice, hopefully some will not, but this is my last column for the Forum pages of Student Life. For the past week, I’ve debated on what to write: another column on gay rights? Done that. Some gripe about campus? Hard to choose. Something about President Bush’s news conference? As American Idol fan Sarah Brown said in Wednesday’s USA Today, “On the one hand, I’d like to think that the American president speaking is more important than a singing contest. On the other hand, I can’t think of anything that President Bush could say right now that would make me want to tune in.” I’ve made it clear I don’t agree with the man. Why re-hash?

The debate continued until Tuesday afternoon, when I attended (and presented at) a ceremony in the Women’s Building. Hosted by the ArtSci Council, this ceremony honored deans, professors and instructors for outstanding teaching. The awards were presented by students.

The ceremony was really quite interesting. Each student presenter had a very personal story of why s/he had nominated the faculty member for the award, but it was clear in every case that these professors went above and beyond the call of duty. Doubtless, every honoree seemed to be extraordinary at the hard and often thankless act of teaching. Every honoree, in word and deed, recognized that teaching went beyond outstanding classroom instruction and into the realm of office hours and personal lives. The student presenters’ anecdotal evidence spoke of uncovering passions they never knew existed, thinking in ways they never thought possible and of discovering the joy of mentorship. I’m ready to graduate, but listening to the students’ stories made me want to stay an extra year just to take classes from these inspiring faculty members.

Much of the Forum pages of Student Life are devoted to criticism. And rightly so: Washington University students should have high expectations of professors, staff and administrators (they also should have high expectations of each other, something we too often forget). In educational terms, undergraduate institutions should provide a rich environment in which students can intellectually and personally maturate. In economic terms, Washington University’s students pay a lot for this education and thus appropriately expect a lot in return. Student Life, and its op-ed page in particular, serves an important function by giving students a voice and a “forum” in which to debate campus, national and world issues. I am sure the griping, gaffes and letter-to-the-editor generating columns will continue. For that I’m glad.

But, amidst all of this criticism, we do not say thank you enough. Tuesday’s ceremony was a reminder that, despite our gripes, we are pretty lucky. We attend a first-rate University where the vast majority of professors and staff are sincerely devoted to their jobs, where most administrators keep students’ best interests at heart and-most importantly-we exist in a community where people do seem to genuinely care about each other, annoyances aside. Many in this world are not afforded (or cannot afford) such an education, and we cannot forget that.

So, in this final column, I would like to say thank you.

Thank you to the administration, who has successfully guided the University’s ascent into the realm of top research institutions while not losing sight of the attributes of our community that made such an ascent possible.

Thank you to my professors, who have provided me too many eye-opening classes, ways of thinking and challenges to count.

Thank you to the University’s professional staff, who work long hours to recruit, serve and provide more opportunities to the students here.

Thank you to the landscapers, food service workers and laborers who work to keep our campus beautiful and, with their easy smiles and good attitudes, help lighten students’ days.

Thank you to anyone I forgot.

And thank you to my readers, who have provided me with encouragement, criticism and feedback along the way.

Good luck!

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