Students Take Action

Time and again this space has been filled with pleas from the Editors for increased student involvement. We have felt that it is necessary for us, the students, to take an active interest and play a role in the community in order to have a viable, enjoyable, and complete University. We know that it is hard to come up with fresh ideas and implement them. We know that many times groups on campus have come up with ideas, planned them only to find that no one comes. It can be disheartening but to become discouraged will only deepen the apathy that too often pervades Adelphi. This apathy is not only dangerous to student life as defined as activities and events but also to the intellectual development of the student body. As an institution of higher education, to be blasé about anything is dangerous, as it leads to complacency which breeds contempt.

That complacency and contempt not only harms us here at school but will out in the "real" world where there are issues that need to be addressed. A past editorial bemoaned the fact that no one (faculty or students) stepped forward to initiate a debate over the most critical issue of today - Iraq and the future of the United States' place in the world. This past Monday the Delphian's call was answered as a group of students stepped forward and organized a symposium on Iraq and U.S. policy which was heavily attended and raised the level of debate on campus.

The event in and of itself is an important first step. To have an open and honest debate over an issue that effects each of us means that we as students do not fear one another's views. It takes some measure of courage to stand before a ballroom full of people and announce a viewpoint some will disagree with. It takes courage not being able to refer to a notebook or text but to rely on your own mind and heart to make a point. That is just as important as a lecture by a professor or guest speaker.

This student driven event will hopefully embolden others on campus to step forward and open discussions on other issues that are important to the University community. Parties in the Rat or in Dorm lounges - while providing an important service - are not the only ways to increase student involvement. Students should be willing to express themselves in more places at a university than in a classroom. A university discussion should extend beyond the classroom.

We are given tools in the classroom that we need to use. The Iraq symposium gave us an opportunity to do so. It should not stop there. We certainly can not address every national or international crisis or issue but we can start to think about them as a University. How does the Catholic Church crisis affect us here at Adelphi? On Long Island? What about the AIDS epidemic? The list can go on and on. These issues can be made into "events." A party is not the only way to keep students around. Giving students the opportunity to express their views and try out new ideas is what a University is all about. Monday's event was a good start. What will be the next topic? When will the next "event" be? When it is, we'll be there - will you?