Rising — School Anxiety
Honestly, this can be said for every day, but that's only because with each passing moment we become one day closer to school, and one day closer to a near total breakdown from the pressure of classes.
Classes start the 22nd, which is only 15 days away. In that time you could take a trip, read a good book, go for a hike or just do anything. Unfortunately, in the back of everyone's mind will be that Wednesday morning, like it or not, which will be the first day of classes. And while many may want to get back into the swing of things, that first day still looms as a scary thought.
Falling — Buildings
Construction is continuing late into the summer months all around campus. Parts of avenues and walkways are still unfinished, and the gaping lot that once was the White Avenue Parking Garage is a little hard to miss.
While most of the construction was not expected to be finished in time for fall, let alone within this calendar year, one can't help but wonder how students will be able to handle the new delays and detours once campus starts to fill up once more.
Rising — Interest in presidential election
It's almost that time — soon we will all be barraged by the incessant grandstanding and campaigning of both Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama. Regardless of which party and candidate a person supports, the election season remains one of the most pivotal times in our nation as citizens have the opportunity to not only vote for the person they think is right for this country, but also express their basic civic responsibility.
While the ads may be annoying, as the passing days get ticked off the calendar, the interest in not only the election but also the future path of our nation will heighten.
Rising — Michael Phelps places in Olympic history
It's official, Michael Phelps has swum in his last Olympic event, and like so many races before this one, he walked away with gold.
Phelps walks away with 22 overall medals, 18 of which are gold. That's more than most nations get in an entire Olympic cycle. With his retirement from the Olympics, the question is now raised as to where Phelps stands in the Pantheon of all-time Olympic greats. Ultimately, Phelps' name is sure to be listed near the top for not only swimming, but all Olympic sports. His run of dominance in the 2008 Beijing Olympics was a thing of beauty, and his overall three Olympic runs at Athens, Beijing and London have culminated into making him one of the most decorated athletes the world will ever see.
Rising — Justin Gatlin's career revival
The former UT track star has been in the midst of a career revival at the 2012 London Olympics.
Once the fastest man in the world for a brief moment in 2004, Gatlin was suspended from track in 2006 for a positive test of unnaturally high levels of testosterone. Once the dust settled in 2007, Gatlin was banned for four years and had his career best performance in the 100m annulled.
While out of track, Gatlin contemplated a possible football career, but ultimately returned in 2011 and surprisingly made the US team by winning the Trials. This week, Gatlin's star has continued to rise by winning the bronze in the 100m dash at a blazing time of 9.79 seconds, the fastest time ever recorded for a man in his 30s. While Gatlin was a distant third to the Jamaican speed-duo of Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake, his performance (though some do still question his "clean" status) is something to behold at a summer spectacle known for great human interest pieces.