A week ago today, I was sitting in my room, waiting to take my twin brother to the airport. He was going to Los Angeles for a career fair conference and I somehow got yanked into giving him a ride. I had my instant messenger program open on my computer and I got a little pop-up surprise from a friend, who happens to be a sports writer in Boulder.

" Patton just resigned."

I sat and stared at the computer for a few seconds. No, that's not true, I thought. How could it be? The basketball season hadn't even started yet and CU fans were still reeling from a 1-7 football season start. But it was true. He will coach until the end of the season, but it's starting to look more and more like Mike Bohn will start his search for a new coach now. Mark Kiszla just wrote a column about it this morning. I'm not going to say I always agree with Kiszla, but what I will say is this: There is a reason he hasn't touched the topic until now, a week later. And it has nothing to do with hurting someone's feelings.

Of course, not everyone is a sports fan, but there is plenty of controversy to go around in Boulder. Even when CU isn't in the spotlight, it kind of is.

The Colorado Daily is reporting that Ward Churchill has filed a suit against CU for $20,000 in attorney fees, fees that he and his attorney say the CU Faculty Council Web site states it will pay to a member of the faculty "undergoing a dismissal of cause case." Whether or not what the Web site says is the actual policy of the university or not is for a judge to decide. But, it does bring up a good point.

How many times have students looked up something on the CU Web site, WebCT or CUConnect and taken it to be fact? What if those 'facts' were not facts at all, but rather an unwritten policy that a department held? What if there was a legal challenge to these policies? Would the written policies on a university Web site hold up to legal wrangling or, perhaps, can you always believe what you read on the Internet, even if it is from a reputable source?

Perhaps a WebCT grade could be challenged or perhaps someone might not be able to graduate because what CUConnect told them and what were actually the facts were two different things. It's not unheard of. Whose responsibility is it to clarify these policies?

These are all questions that should have to be answered in the Ward Churchill case. And your graduation or grade in that geology class may hinge on a few of the answers.

What do you think about either the resignation of Ricardo Patton or about Churchill suing the university? You can post your own story about it or why not start a blog?

Thanksgiving break is just around the corner, folks. CU students will have Nov. 20 through Nov. 24 off for fall break/Thanksgiving break. But before then, there are more than a few fun things to do, both on-campus and off-, from now until then. The vast majority don't have anything to do with shouting down people who pass out pamphlets on Norlin or around the fountain.

-Program Council is presenting the fourth annual Battle of the Bands at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3 in the UMC Ballroom. This free show will feature 10 of CU's best bands. There will also be free giveaways, including T-shirts and an iPod. There are a few names that you probably will recognize, including Second String, Rogue Sound and Now Here This. For more information, visit www.programcouncil.com.

-For those of you who prefer a more low-key approach to entertainment, CU Theatre is presenting Arms and The Man, Nov. 2, 3 and 4 at 8 p.m. and Nov. 4 and 5 at 2 p.m. in the Loft Theater in the University Theater building. CU doctoral candidate William C. Kovacsik directs this comedy. Tickets are $8-15 and are available at www.cutheatre.org.

-The Buffs take on Kansas State at 1:30 p.m. Saturday Nov. 4 at Folsom Field. The Buffs, with a 1-8 record, will be looking to get their second win of the season under new coach Dan Hawkins. Kansas State (5-4, 2-3 Big 12) is coming off a win last weekend against Iowa State, the Buffs next opponent. Tickets are still available by going to www.cubuffs.com.

-Finally, the Golden Buffalo Men's Chorus, Women's Chorus and Collegiate Chorale will present a free show at 7:30 p.m. Sunday Nov. 5 in the Grusin Music Hall in the Imig Music Building. Come on, you know you don't make it to the Music building nearly as much as you should.

Need to get off campus? Here are a few things happening around that will get you into the 'real world':

-There will be a free opening reception for the winter exhibits at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, 1750 13 th St. at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 3. Included in the new exhibits are the works of Terry Maker, Jimi Billingsley, and DJRABBI. For more information, visit www.bmoca.org.

-Thorne's Ecological Institute will present Wild Things at the Marsh at the Sombrero Marsh Environmental Education Center, 1466 N. 63rd St. at 4 p.m. on Nov. 4. There will be face painting, leaf rubbing, some cookie making and a tour of Boulder County's only saline wetland. Snacks and drinks will be served. For more information, call 303-499-3647.

-Finally, the Boulder Acoustic Society will put on a free show at the Canyon Theater in the Boulder Public Library, 1000 Canyon Blvd. at 4 p.m. on Nov. 5. Describing their music as American Roots, this popular Boulder staple will perform for the audience their own brand of music. For more information, visit www.boulder.lib.co.us.

-The Campus Press has a story about fraternities and their gradual increase in numbers and membership. After all that has happened between CU and the frats, this seems to be topical and have the low down on how those frats live without the guidance of the university.

-Boulder Weekly has a story about Fairview's day off. Interesting when you think about the high schoolers running around Boulder who can sometimes be mistaken for your average college student.

-And KUSports.com has a few quotes from Bill Self, head coach of KU men's basketball, about the Ricardo Patton situation.