As this semester starts to kick into full swing, 2008 seems rife with opportunities.

Here’s how CMU can make the best of it.

1. Continue the fight against split university funding

The university scored a major victory last fall, when state legislature maintained that all state universities remain on one funding bill.

As a new year and a new slew of financial woes approach state legislators, it is imperative they prioritize university funding, and in doing so, equally consider all universities rather than favoring a select few while others starve.

2. Devise a new general education model

Bickering within the Academic Senate needs to come to a close – soon.

Students still are waiting to hear about fundamental revisions to their general education requirements, after the A-Senate postponed voting from December into this year.

There always will be some disagreement on what exactly constitutes a sufficiently well-rounded graduate, but certainly some consensus can be reached and built upon, especially after months of discussion.

3. Reach a decision about the CMU Promise

CMU should not be making promises it cannot keep.

Nor should it be dangling the possibility in front of potential students, who soon will decide whether they will attend CMU.

Whether the Promise stays or goes, whether new students will have less predictability in their tuition bills – incoming students need to know.

If the Board of Trustees acknowledges the Promise as a significant part of CMU’s recruitment, surely trustees must appreciate that prospective students deserve an answer before they commit to the university.

4. Improve the campus safety environment

Three sexual assaults on campus is three too many.

Yet that number occurred during last semester alone.

CMU Police is not entirely to fault. Some additional lights on campus certainly could not hurt, particularly within the darker alleys on campus.

Illumination cannot fix everything, however. A greater awareness among students would create an environment more responsive to similar threats, whether it’s through more educative programs or panels or through the increased spread of preventative advice.

The university, police and students each have their own parts to play, and this year’s performance hopefully will be an improvement over last year’s.

5. Win another Mid-American Conference championship

This fall CMU took home its second MAC championship trophy.

Let’s go for a repeat. Twice was nice, but three times would be all the sweeter.

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