I spent the last night of 2006 in the French Quarter with a group of friends watching fireworks and the gumbo pot drop on Jax Brewery. Some of you spent the evening at home with friends or family, others of you spent the time with thousands of devoted people in Times Square. No matter where you were, you probably made some sort of mental note to make 2007 a better year than the one before.

Like many of you out there, not only did I think to make 2007 better than 2006 – but I also made some New Year’s resolutions for myself. They include the normal stuff – like eat better, call people more often, workout more consistently, etc. So far so good – check with me in February to make sure I am still on my plan.

I have been at Loyola now since August of 2006 as the associate director for student activities. Before Loyola, I was at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio, teaching courses and coordinating campus programming. All the time I was at Lake Erie, all I could think about was New Orleans. The city had gotten into my blood when I worked at Tulane as an area director from 2001 to 2004. The year 2006 brought me back to New Orleans and to Loyola University. I have been enjoying it immensely.

During my time at Loyola I have thought about a few things that we as a campus community could resolve to do to make Loyola and New Orleans better in 2007.

1. Let’s make a more concerted effort to clean up after ourselves. If each of us threw our trash into the proper receptacles on campus, the campus’ appearance would improve.

2. Sign up for at least one Loyola University Community Action Program service project for the semester. Not only does this improve our city, but it also helps to expand our experiences and perspectives.

3. Let’s thank the people who help make Loyola look and feel better. People like our cleaning staff, food service workers, maintenance staff, University Police officers, our professors, our resident advisors, our desk assistants and anyone else who has made Loyola a place you want to be.

4. Attend a program advertised on campus. If you haven’t been to a dance class yet, stop by the University Programming Board’s office in the Danna Center basement to sign up. If you haven’t gone to a residential life program or athletic event or played an intramural sport – check them out. We would like to see you there.

5. Check out Loyola’s College of Music and Fine Art’s performance calendar on the Web. Make it a point to see one recital, concert and play.

6. Stop by the gallery in the Danna Center or the library. Spend some time looking at the art.

7. Let’s spend some time in the city. Visit the zoo, the aquarium, Magazine Street shops, restaurants, the New Orleans Museum of Art, City Park, the Fly or take a walking tour of the Garden District.

8. Remember to always be safe. Let’s walk in groups, take the shuttle and know where you are and who you are with at all times. Never leave your friends with someone they just met.

9. Try something new this semester – whether it be a new restaurant, new food, a new way to class, a new campus club or organization, a new place to sit in class or during the window or talking to someone you may not have thought to say “hi” to before.

Don’t stop thinking about what you can do to make Loyola and New Orleans better. If you get an idea, share it with the Student Government Association, administration, faculty and each other.

Hollie Chessman is associate director for student activies.