Michelle Obama flopped. Hillary Clinton excelled. Denver had great parties. St. Paul, Minn., had riots. The opinions of four U students who viewed firsthand the Democratic and Republican conventions couldn't be more different, but the thing that surprised them most was how the Republicans came out on top.

While the Olympic bid scandal was a big story, the busted boater imbroglio barely made the news. Our outrage has been replaced by apathy. This also contributes to the imperviousness our elected officials feel when accepting tickets to the big game, vacation properties in the Bahamas and golf trips to Scotland.

After Sichuan University, the U's sister school in China, felt the effects of the earthquake in May, the U Confucius Institute rallied people together to raise $3,000 to help victims recover from losses.

With the help of the School of Music, the Confucius Institute raised an additional $1,000 through a benefit concert Aug. 30.

At the stroke of midnight, while celebrating the dawn of a New Year with friends, I had a great idea. Having never made a New Year's resolution, I decided that I would make one for 2008.

A resolution that would be easy to stick with and maybe even accomplish8212;playing a personal record 50 different golf courses in a calendar year

The Utah State Board of Regents put the David Eccles School of Business renovation and construction plans on top of its $283 million development priority list Friday.

The list, which includes seven other projects statewide, requests $28.5 million in state funding to go toward the school's $71 million goal.

Iff students become involved with the traditions and activities at the U, even just one club, they will find the university experience completely changed. Professors will learn their names, and they will stand out among the applicants for a job, post-graduation.

The most overrated, underrated, player-friendly, bang-for-buck and toughest courses available to you in Utah.

Should the funding be approved, the U must follow through with its plan to create more classrooms.

Tucked in the corner of Pleasant Grove is a great golf course called Cedar Hills Golf Club.

This might be the most underrated course in Utah and without a doubt one of the most fun. It plays 6,800 yards from the back tees, which isn't too long, but length is something that the designers were willing to give up because of the fact that it's tight.

One big thing about being a college athlete is giving back to the community. The Runnin' Utes did just that Saturday at the University Health Care Annual Kids' Health and Safety Fair.