2008 Woodie Awards
Advocating change in dorms
By: Zane Smith
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Opinion
We are living an elaborate and convoluted lie. We have ascribed ourselves to a hypocrisy that extends to our education, our social interactions and the culture we have created at Macalester.
We have each learned the need for social justice, advocated for international reciprocity, defended individual human rights and been proponents of equity and accountability. We condemn egregious and self-interested acts and we collectively seek to render the world a proverbial "better place." We are well versed in the problems and injustices afflicting our society.
Yet, we are failing miserably at addressing them. We speak glowingly of social change but our actions suggest otherwise. We attend rallies and protests, and we write insightful propositions to solve transnational conflicts. But when the problem manifests itself in a localized context, we falter and emulate the very practices we dismiss as wrong. We succumb to the very worst incarnation of the culture we are aiming to improve; a culture of disrespect, injustice and a flagrant disregard for the needs of others and of our community.
I have observed our disheartening deficiencies present themselves throughout this past year in college dorms. Our residence halls are our communities. They are our opportunity to foster the climate of mutual respect and understanding we strive to engender in our government, society and in the world. Our hypocrisy is that we endorse effective reform on a societal level but fail to create communities that are reflective of the value system for which we stand.
We speak of the paramount role of the individual in addressing issues but when a washing machine or laser printer breaks, we are content to complain about the problem and never attempt to have it resolved. We stipulate the need for a system of accountability but will nonetheless deny our individual agency and vandalize our very own living spaces without question. We lament the lack of discretionary authority in government's choices but are happy to loiter the halls and talk loudly on our mobile phones during the late hours of the night, to the demise of other residents.
We have each learned the need for social justice, advocated for international reciprocity, defended individual human rights and been proponents of equity and accountability. We condemn egregious and self-interested acts and we collectively seek to render the world a proverbial "better place." We are well versed in the problems and injustices afflicting our society.
Yet, we are failing miserably at addressing them. We speak glowingly of social change but our actions suggest otherwise. We attend rallies and protests, and we write insightful propositions to solve transnational conflicts. But when the problem manifests itself in a localized context, we falter and emulate the very practices we dismiss as wrong. We succumb to the very worst incarnation of the culture we are aiming to improve; a culture of disrespect, injustice and a flagrant disregard for the needs of others and of our community.
I have observed our disheartening deficiencies present themselves throughout this past year in college dorms. Our residence halls are our communities. They are our opportunity to foster the climate of mutual respect and understanding we strive to engender in our government, society and in the world. Our hypocrisy is that we endorse effective reform on a societal level but fail to create communities that are reflective of the value system for which we stand.
We speak of the paramount role of the individual in addressing issues but when a washing machine or laser printer breaks, we are content to complain about the problem and never attempt to have it resolved. We stipulate the need for a system of accountability but will nonetheless deny our individual agency and vandalize our very own living spaces without question. We lament the lack of discretionary authority in government's choices but are happy to loiter the halls and talk loudly on our mobile phones during the late hours of the night, to the demise of other residents.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Adam
posted 4/14/08 @ 2:09 PM CST
People on their mobile phones are bringing about the demise of students? This is a serious issue and desperately needs to be addressed.
Samuel
posted 4/14/08 @ 6:26 PM CST
Zane,
Congratulations on your self-congratulatory, misdirected apologia for human rights.
RAs have no right to complain about the responsibilities of the job. (Continued…)
Joe
posted 4/17/08 @ 12:12 PM CST
To echo a small portion of Samuel's comment, the comment about custodian's cleaning up people's vomit being a violation of their human rights is quite a stretch. (Continued…)
Zane Smith
posted 4/17/08 @ 4:32 PM CST
Thank you, Adam, Samuel, and Joe for your comments.
Although I disagree, I respect your opinions.
You are correct in your assertions that your actions may not necessarily reflect your views. (Continued…)
Post a Comment