A quick aside, if you will permit it, for those of you new around here, and to refresh everyone else's memories.... I should have graduated in 1996. I didn't complete a course back then, so now I'm finishing up. I take one class, and it's two and a half hours one time a week - not the best way to do it, but since I have this pesky job and family thing going on, it's the only way to make things work out. I'll usually be posting comments about class or being "back in the life" after class on Monday's, or when the mood strikes me.

Ok, now that that's over with... A lot has changed. First and foremost, the kids are younger and better looking. They also dress better - but what do I know, I'm not a fashion critic.

The biggest difference that I noticed on the first day was the cell phones. Back in 1996, that was a pretty big deal to have, so the trend back then was pagers - people could try to find you by beeping you, and you were pretty much always reachable, even if you couldn't call someone back.

On my first day of class, I noticed that just about every person I walked past had a cell phone jammed to their ear. Most were lost in conversation and not really paying attention, but they all had their flashy cell phones and were chatting along as they wandered the campus. What fun.

It was also noticeable before class started - everyone pulling out their phone and either turning it off (not likely) or setting it to vibrate so it wouldn't disturb everyone - how very considerate.

On the other hand, there is the parking situation. Like RAM and money, you can never have enough parking - and it's still true at Southern.

True, they did manage to get a parking structure up when they tore down a building or two - but the first floor is for faculty and staff only, and the other three floors are just a free-for-all of students trying to find a place to park.

As a commuter, I get to park there or in the two commuter lots - which are further away from the academic buildings than anything else on campus. I can sorta see why they want students living on campus to be closer, but making the commuters - who already have to spend some time getting to school - walk about a mile to get to class seems a bit much to me. I thought it when I lived on campus, and I still think it now, as I live it. Sure, there are shuttle busses, but it's still a bit of a pain in the butt - you have to wait for the driver to remember to show up, then you have to wait for him to get to your lot....

Not that I'm complaining - I sort of enjoy the exercise of walking around campus again.