Last Saturday was the ninth annual Crosstown Helpout between Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati.

More than 1,200 students, staff, alumni, and friends from both universities came together to do community service at various sites around the Cincinnati area.

A take-off from the well-known Crosstown Shootout, this activity not only brought archrivals together, but benefited many others in Cincinnati.

The war in Iraq is one of the most important and hotly-debated issues today. Last Saturday, Xavier students attended a Day of Dialogue in Kelley Auditorium in Alter Hall to hear different opinions on the war and to share their own. One of the key features of the day was a dialogue between former CIA analyst Ray McGovern and Miami University political science professor Dr. Adeed Dawisha.

Instead of a debate format, each speaker had five minutes to express his opinions, then the other speaker summarized what he had heard.

When you put more than 60 students, over $500 worth of alcohol, several RAs, and Campus Police officers in the same room together, you usually expect to find kids in handcuffs and some quality material for the Police Notes.

But on Friday night in the third floor lounge of the Commons Apartments, this very scenario played out without any arrests.

Hosted by the Commons Apartment RAs and Campus Police, the "Drink ‘til your legal limit" program featured beers, wines, and mixed drinks from all around the world.

Sr. Alice Gerdeman, C.D.P., and Deborah Jordan spoke about nonviolence on Tuesday evening as part of Fr. Benjamin J. Urmston, S.J.’s fourth pillar of the "Five Pillars of a New World Building" and "Vision of Hope" series.

The event was a free, public forum at the Schiff Family Conference Center in Cintas Center.

Gerdeman is the coordinator of the Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center and an adjunct professor of theology at Xavier.

Do any of you ladies find it ironic that the patron saint of Valentine’s Day is, of all things, a man?

Seriously, ladies, I highly doubt that yesterday you overheard your boyfriend/significant other/boy you met at Soupie’s talking with his friends about how excited he was to go order you some flowers and race up to the Godiva kiosk in Kenwood Mall so they can wait an hour to buy the perfect assortment of milk and dark chocolate truffles, just for you.