Cyclocross - Can I cyclocross my bike?

So there is a collegiate cross season for the first time, and I'm very excited about it. I was planning on using my Dawes Kalahari commuter as a basis for a conversion.
I was going to stick on some Suntour XC pro brakes, XC Pro derailleur and Command shifters with some Cane Creek brake levers.
But I was chatting to a team mate who thinks that this frame would be an awful basis for a conversion.
It's a 2002 Dawes Kalahari frame (ignore the rest of parts; I had to replace most of them :)
http://www.dawescycles.com/dawes/kalahari.htm

If I need to look at a new frame, what is a good, grad student budget frame for racing?

Probably not the best frame to convert.....if you had an old Galaxy.....

whats a grad student budget? cheap old school 70s steel frame, single speed it. If you dont want to single speed it then... change the fork, headset and stem. make sure the fork can mount cantis... and then get some knobbies, swap in a mtb drivetrain and you should be good to go. watch out about pedal/bottom bracket/ tire and derailleur clearance. tire clearance being spacing between tire/fork and brakes... for the other clearances just make sure nothing is hitting the ground or scraping and you should be good to go... average cost... about 300-400$ dont touch the carbon stuff less you wanna get real serious but even then carbon appears just to be about the weight.

Well, I happen to have an old Raleigh frame available, but it does not have the clearance for nobblies nor canti studs. I spose I'll see if I can flush out a used frame from the undergrowth! The components are mostly already available.
I want to limit my budget, because if it gets towards 500$ or so, I cannot overlook the Marinoni Fango..

Re: Dawes Galaxy. I love Galaxies, and wish I had one. But I am pretty sure they do not have enough clearance around the bottom bracket/chainstay join. I am certain that the similar Raleigh Randoneur bikes don't. Pity; they are two a penny back home and I could pick one up at Chrimbo.
Thanks for help so far!

Judging from the link you posted, it would be a snap. If the frame can fit fat tires and fenders, it can fit a set of cross tires no problem. V-brakes and cantis use the same mounts. If you want to go real cheap, then take of the fenders and rack first. Then swap in a set of drop bars with brifters and cantis. Leave the drivetrain alone for the time being to see how it works. If it shift, brakes and handles well then start just leave as is. Tiagra brifters are fairly cheap used on ebay. Good luck

Tim

Thanks cs1,
what you outlined is what I was intending on doing before my team mates poo pooed it. Although I'll not put Tiagra shifters on it. I can't brake properly with Sti. I was going to use the Tektro brake levers with Suntour Command shifters.

Unless you will get all things you need to change for free then I would suggest not to do it. Instead I would look for a used cx machine. Convertions usually end up constiing more than expected (unless you like me have a basement full of junk and spare parts).