Thumbs up: To the 307 Northern Illinois University students who volunteered their time to help tidy up nearby homes as part of Rake Across DeKalb on Nov. 10. The event, in which NIU students help rake leaves at homes where the residents would have difficulty doing so for themselves. Event organizer Destiny McDonald, the assistant director for community service at NIU, said that participation more than doubled from last year. The event shows another way that NIU and the students it brings to the DeKalb community truly are an asset. We thank the students who volunteered their time to help.

Thumbs down: To all the key players in the scandal involving former CIA Director David Petraeus. The scandal involves Petraeus’ affair with Paula Broadwell, allegations of cyber-stalking made against Broadwell by Florida socialite Jill Kelley, and Kelley trying to use an honorary position to claim “diplomatic protection.”

Then we have an FBI agent who allegedly became obsessed with the case and sent Kelley shirtless photos. And Kelley is alleged to have exchanged flirtatious emails with another Gen. John R. Allen, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan. To add some intrigue, Broadwell has classified material on her computer at home without proper authorization. A soap opera writer couldn’t come up with a better storyline. Unfortunately, this involves real people, many of whom have immense responsibilities tied to our national security and defense. We need to trust that these leaders have sound judgment in the most difficult circumstances, but that’s tough to do at the moment. This is disappointing and we expect better.