During the summer months while most University of Louisville students were soaking up the sun, taking summer classes or punching the clock, some were doing humanitarian work and learning how to promote stronger political awareness. Though not as glamorous as a beach vacation or as profitable as a summer job, these students reaped benefits that they shared with communities both near and far with their humanitarian work in Uganda, travels to China and attendance at the Campus Progress National Student Conference in Washington D.C. Just married in early June, Heather...

1.) Samardo Samuels - Men's Basketball - Newark, N.J. Samuels is the big man expected to fill the big void left by the graduation of center David Padgett. He was named the 2008 USA Today National Player of the Year and should start for the Cardinals from day one.

Patrick Beiting has lived both on and off campus, but now enjoys the freedom of the latter. Like many other students at the University of Louisville, Beiting lived on campus his freshman year, but has since moved into a house with some of his friends. "You have more freedom and more responsibility when you live off campus," said Beiting, a junior communication major.

As I begin my second year as Editor in Chief of The Louisville Cardinal I'm excited about what lies ahead. New people (this includes you), new stories to tell and new challenges await us. However, as an editor of a student newspaper, I must seek changes in the way the newspaper represents the voices of this campus.

Matt Tompkins never saw it coming. Following a mid-February night of studying at the University of Louisville's Ekstrom Library, Tompkins, a junior political science major, was assaulted when he walked alone outside of the library to his Delta Upsilon fraternity house.

Every freshmen stands in line at least once to have their picture taken on the lower level of the Houchen's building. And as a first year undergraduate, they have to get used to that picture because it will be attached to their name and their ultimate survival on U of L's campus until they graduate.

Four years ago when I first stepped foot on the University of Louisville campus, I'll never forget that ball of apprehension lodged into the pit of my stomach. I felt in over my head and scared. However, it took no time at all to learn the tricks of the trade, so to speak, of college life.

Way back during the Freshmen Orientation of 2004, I had the pleasure of hearing Professor Phil Laemmle's famous "Biscuit Speech." Laemmle was a great teacher and great man who made a positive impact in the lives of numerous students. His annual Biscuit Speech, delivered at freshmen orientation, was about how college freshmen are young and stupid, but by listening to folks like him, they could fix it together.

University of Louisville Athletic Director Tom Jurich has proven he knows how to manage a program. Since his hire in 1997, Jurich has overseen one of the greatest rises in any university across the nation. He was instrumental in getting the Cards moved to the Big East Conference in 2006, while many sports have gained national recognition under his watch.