The National Association of College Stores reports that an average student will spend more on books in one semester than most third-world families earn in a year: $900. Text books are expensive and they continue to cost more and more each year. According to a new study by the state Public Interest Research Group, college textbook prices "have increased at nearly four times the rate of inflation" for all finished goods since 1994.

Museums can house many things; fossils, relics, priceless paintings and in the case of the Speed Art Museum, parties too. AfterHours, sponsored by Brown Forman, is a reoccurring party that happens four times a year at the Speed Art Museum. The gallery fills with people for a sophisticated affair filled with great food, entertainment and, of course, wonderful drinks.

Code Red and Q Official, rocked the Red Barn at the University of Louisville with their hip-hop music on Saturday night, despite an undersized crowd. The Student Activities Board had spent three months planning and preparing the concert, but only about 50 people showed in the Red Barn during the event.

The president and three vice presidents of the Student Government Association at the University of Louisville are generally referred to as the "top four." But proposed amendments to the organization's constitution presented at last week's student senate meeting could change that number to five.

On their Web sites, colleges and universities sometimes make their dormitories seem too good to be true, and sometimes they are. Students get the opportunity to see where they are going to be living when they get to campus for orientation. The same holds true for professors.

The Office of Student Affairs at the University of Louisville administered an online survey to students at the end of last semester. The purpose of the survey was to gather information about satisfaction in regards to programs, services and the campus community as a whole.

The Cardiovascular Innovation Institute is the newest collaboration between the University of Louisville and Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's HealthCare at the Louisville Health Science Center. The five story, multimillion dollar facility at 302 E. Muhammad Ali Blvd.

The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was explored at the University of Louisville last Friday night, with a discussion led by Jefferson District Judge Joan "Toni" Stringer on the state of Civil Rights in the 21st century. The discussion was apart of the Martin Luther King Jr.

Michael Bush announced on Jan. 9 that he was not going to return for his senior season. The University of Louisville football player chose to leave U of L and forego his medical red shirt eligibility in favor of pursuing the NFL. At a press conference in the University of Louisville's Student Activities Center, Bush, with his parents by his side, told the media that he had been leaning toward the NFL and the departure of Bobby Petrino to the Atlanta Falcons finalized his decision.

Editor's note: Editor in Chief Chris Brown is reporting from the Middle East while participating in Project Interchange, a student newspaper editors' seminar in Israel conducted by the American Jewish Committee. JERUSALEM - It's hardly news to say that the Middle East - including Israel - has its share of problems.