• George Lucas contributes to film, electronics department
  From an internationally-acclaimed filmmaker who brought audiences the world of "Star Wars" comes a contribution of $100,000 to inspire the next generation of filmmakers at Cal State Long Beach.

• CSU graduation totals are economic force
  This past 2003-04 academic year, the CSU system graduated a record number of students both with master's and bachelor's degrees.

• Food budget bulge could hit CSULB
  Associated Press reporter Pamela Hamilton recently released an article about rising food prices at certain universities throughout the United States.

Opinion

• Our View: Genetically modified cats a viable gift
  Americans with pet allergies will have nothing to sneeze about when a biotechnology company based in California delivers hypoallergenic cats to consumers.

• Question and answer time for the ignorant
  I am sick of people asking certain questions when it comes to the war in Iraq and other political issues. A few common questions include: "If Osama Bin Laden was behind the Sept. 11 attacks, then why are we in Iraq?" "Why do we allow civil liberties to be violated by the Patriot Act?" and "Why are we so stupid to have re-elected President Bush?" If you don't know the answers to these questions by now, then you are in luck.

• Letter to the editor

Diversions

• Ho, ho, ho-liday festivals
  ‘Tis the season for radio station Christmas festival shows … lots and lots of festival shows.

Sports

• Beach ends season with fifth place finish
  A season filled with volatility and inconsistency came to a close for the Long Beach State men's water polo team as they went 2-1, capturing fifth-place in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Tournament in Palo Alto, Sunday.

• Notre Dame tops 49ers in finale
  The Long Beach State women's volleyball team hoped for a climactic finish to the regular season in the Baden Thanksgiving Classic tournament held in The Pyramid last weekend, but the 49ers found themselves upset by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, 30-28, 22-30, 25-30, 30-22, 16-14, in a nail-biting five game battle.

• Rice deserves more respect from NFL
  Jerry Rice is the greatest football player of all time.