Active students simply wasting time

To the editor:

Apoorva Shah wrote of himself and his kind that “we are a group of students who believe we can create deep and positive change, not only in our community but in the world” (“Blanket of apathy stifles Rice’s silent majority,” March 24). Hang onto that faith as hard as you can, because I assure you that almost no one else believes that.

After seven years spent at two universities, I am of the strong opinion that student activism and student journalism are almost completely and hilariously fruitless and impotent — well intentioned, I am guessing, but in the end just a waste of time, words, paper and anger. The last of those is of course the very cheapest to come by. There’s no shortage of it among young people, as anyone who’s ever tried to raise the rabble well knows.

No one really needs or wants the assemblage of carping, ranting and bellyaching produced by students who want “to be socially and politically active.” Why? Because students do not generally know enough about the situations they are protesting to come up with good and useful ideas. Their opinions are disregarded by our society for that excellent reason and because self-righteous preaching — the staple of student journalists and activists — does not go very far with people, especially when coupled with the lack of real action that has too often come from those same loud-mouthed journalists and activists.

It is possible that someday such a student will do or say something that changes the world. I just won’t be holding my breath waiting for it.

Philip Broderick Music graduate student

Self-righteous rants too broad to inspire

To the editor:

Every week, without fail, we expect that when we pick up our copies of the Thresher it will contain an article crying for student activism and bemoaning the blanket of apathy tucked snugly around the Rice campus. While we agree that students could and should take a more active role on campus, whiny articles and pleas will do little to inspire the passion and commitment that we believe the student body seeks.

Instead of writing preachy columns, why don’t these concerned students spend time thinking of ways to inspire and motivate their fellow classmates — rather than deriding and berating them with social critiques? The rigorous academic course load, student organizations and social activities leave little room for other interests.

So what is so bad about the repeated complaints that we read — and hear — around campus? They are condescending and vague, giving no specific or direct advice to students.

The problem we are facing is not a sense of apathy and lack of concern, but instead a disconnect between leaders with ideas for change and their peers. The communication necessary to facilitate effective change is simply not there.

Rather than lamenting the general state of unrest and frustration that permeates Rice, those who want to inspire need to give others specific, concrete goals on which they can focus their energies. “The administration” is vague. “President David Leebron’s new vision for enrollment” is a specific problem that is far easier to address. Before we can observe a change to the big picture, we need to start small.

Meltem Demirors Khrista Rypl Wiess freshmen

Student Association heeds suggestions

To the editor:

I am delighted to see Kirti Datla’s interest in the Student Association, as shown by her opinion piece last week (“Student Association needs serious reform,” Mar. 24). It is important that students reflect on our student governance and engage in dialogue on how to best serve Rice.

I am proud to say that the SA has spent the past year addressing many of the concerns that Datla raised. The SA Senate has made significant improvement to the accountability, professionalism and responsibility of senate officers. Attendance and participation has increased dramatically in the senate. Recent elections for SA Executive Committee positions reflect ongoing improvement to leadership development. The positions were contested at dramatically higher levels than in past years.

Our finances also demonstrate a focus on accountability. The SA has one of the highest levels of financial oversight. The SA budget is approved openly by the senate. Also, the accounts are overseen directly by the director of student activities. All records are completely open to anyone at any time.

Furthermore, we have continually reevaluated SA spending, which has resulted in reduced spending. The SA also raises significant amounts of money in addition to collecting blanket tax funds.

Datla astutely suggested a streamlined method of online access for SA services. The SA has been working with Information Technology to integrate the new NetID single sign-on system into SA voting, textbook sales and course guide systems.

Datla is correct that all students must work with their officers to ensure that they provide the best service and representation. Student governance is a process that requires the cooperation of officers and all students to serve our school to the highest standard. I want to thank Datla for her interest in enhancing the SA and welcome all students to join in taking an active role serving our student body.

James Lloyd Former Student Association president Brown senior

Willy Week wasteful with water balloons

To the editor:

Willy Week is one of the highlights of the spring semester and a right of passage for all of our freshmen — with the revered water balloon fight and subsequent bike race as the wild culmination.

But in an age of increasing environmental awareness, I would like to take Rice on a little environmental impact study — with a Beer-Bike twist. Let us examine how much water we consume prepping for and executing our massive water balloon fight.

Each college produces about 20,000 water balloons approximately five inches in diameter — each a good 65 cubic inches of water. With 231 cubic inches equal to one gallon, the 9 colleges will use about 51,000 gallons of water to fill their water balloons.

But with leaking, running hoses, overturned trash cans, popping balloons and the occasional WD-40 spraying, I would estimate that two gallons are wasted for every gallon filled. Therefore, our total water usage comes out to about 152,000 gallons.

According to the Population Reference Bureau, 152,000 gallons of water would cover the average daily water use of 130,000 Haitians — who get by on a little more than one gallon per day. And much of the Haitians’ water is probably not treated, unlike the contents of our chlorinated water balloons.

Unfortunately, I can no longer see the Beer-Bike parade as an innocent water balloon fight — I instead see a celebration of American excess. And though I succumbed to this celebration for the past three years, it is time for me to come clean.

Our generation will face greater water and energy shortages than any previous generation. It is clear that our way of life is not sustainable on a global scale. Changing our ways must be a grassroots effort.

I’ll leave you with one final thought. We transport our 180,000 water balloons on 18 gas-guzzling diesel trucks, assuming every college uses two. Let the celebration begin.

William Hoy Lovett senior

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