Following the selection of running mate Governor Sarah Palin by Senator John McCain, the GOP faithful have taken to filibustering any discussion about the surprise on their presidential ticket. Little discussion, if any, will be broached if they can help it.

The selection of Governor Sarah Palin as the vice-presidential candidate for the Republican Party has certainly introduced new energy into an already historic general election.

The crowd watching the first presidential debate in Village C Alumni Lounge had at least one thing in common with the fans at a typical Hoya basketball game: Both groups of young, cheering students knew whom they wanted to win well beforehand. And they certainly weren’t looking for reasoned arguments. They wanted victory for their side at all costs.

As we draw closer to the election of ’08, the “election of change,” it is prudent of us to remember the other side of health care: biomedical research.

Most have probably never set foot in it. Most have probably never read more than a blurb about it. Most of you would look like Miss Teen South Carolina if you were asked to point it out on a map. This building, however, sits at the heart of Georgetown, at the geographic center of our buzzing campus.

Every Georgetown student has seen Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s quote in the ICC Galleria. “The Age of Nations,” the French Jesuit writes, “is past.” Writing after the calamities of the First and Second World Wars, one can see his point. Unbridled nationalism brought the greatest nations to blows, elevated fascists to power, and fueled the hatred that destroyed much of Europe.

With the media and the eyes of the country focused on the November presidential election, too few have noticed that the American economy is falling apart. Big time.

Years of government deregulation and financial irresponsibility from both lenders and borrowers led to what is without a doubt the worst credit and financial crisis the United States has faced in decades.

After a long, quiet summer here on campus, we can’t tell you how exciting it has been watching this place come back to life over the last few weeks. As student body president and vice president, we want to take this opportunity to update you on what GUSA has been up to since school began.