To our readers

We call it the Gothic Wonderland. It's a world of joy and minor problems, where a B minus on a test and one boring Saturday night can qualify for a bad weekend. It's our bubble, where the world fades away and we're allowed to be young, reckless and worry-free. But bubbles break.

I doubt I'll ever forget the silence on campus September 11. Stricken-faced students wandered around, sometimes using a cell phone, but mostly just numb. There was no chatter in Alpine--just the sound of the TV tuned to CNN. We couldn't imagine normalcy returning; we couldn't remember what normal meant.

But slowly, we did. Midterms went on, we regained the inexplicable joy of chips and cheese at Dillo, and for most, fall break plans continued unabated. And though it's easier to move on here in the Gothic Wonderland, away from the tears and the suffering, our progress was no less important. Because whether we acknowledge it out loud, we know we'll go on. The faith displayed in this country, in our future and in ourselves is remarkable.

And though there are those who would criticize the students on the quads throwing their frisbees rather than attending a debate on world terrorism policy, I guess what I've learned is that it's OK to live in a bubble. We have students who argue tirelessly over issues important to them, and we have others who keep their thoughts closer to the heart. No matter who you are or what you think, there can be as much honor in moving on as there is in dwelling in the fight.

As long as we always remember bubbles are transparent and not meant to be a shield, that they're only temporary, then there's nothing wrong with enjoying the Gothic Wonderland. Because there's one thing more important to remember about bubbles than their fragility; bubbles are symbols of hope, rising and always climbing towards the sky.

The bubble that allows us to be college students also allows us to rise above the fray, to move on and to focus on what's most important--the future. And you need only look at the students playing frisbee to know that we intend to have a bright one.