Select few making bad impressions
Feana Kotter
Issue date: 1/31/07 Section: Opinion
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Abraham Lincoln once said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand." That monumental phrase was meant to show the nation that division negates success and hurts more than it helps. Here in Macomb, that phrase could be used to address the division between the campus and the rest of the city.
During the housing debates of this past summer, when the fate of a student housing complex on South Ward Street was laced with stereotypes and even blatantly negative comments from members of the community, a noticeable problem with the relationship between our campus and community came to light.
While covering the story for this paper, there were times I couldn't always hold my tongue regarding the things that were said about my fellow students. The reputation we have with some of the members of this town is not pleasant, and sadly, many students don't care enough to change that.
The mathematical interpretation of this problem is simple. The five percent of students who are immature, inconsiderate and illogical are branding the other 95 percent of us with their actions. In our defense, however, the residents of Macomb could open their minds to see that not all students are the heinous, drunken monsters they portray us to be.
But when students choose to throw snow and ice balls at passing cars because their sports team won, how can residents view them as intelligent, respectful individuals? If we want to heal the wounds some of our fellow students have caused, we must start at the source.
Alcohol is present on most college campuses, and on ours it is often the root of situations that leave people shaking their heads. Whether their actions result in violence or vandalism, some students are obviously not capable of making smart decisions during or after drinking. Drawing on your friend's face with permanent marker is fine; peeing on someone's porch during the walk home from a bar is not.
The problem isn't the fact that we drink. It's what we do as a result of our drinking that must be changed. Some students are only here while classes are in session. Macomb isn't their town; they don't really live here. But other people do.
During the housing debates of this past summer, when the fate of a student housing complex on South Ward Street was laced with stereotypes and even blatantly negative comments from members of the community, a noticeable problem with the relationship between our campus and community came to light.
While covering the story for this paper, there were times I couldn't always hold my tongue regarding the things that were said about my fellow students. The reputation we have with some of the members of this town is not pleasant, and sadly, many students don't care enough to change that.
The mathematical interpretation of this problem is simple. The five percent of students who are immature, inconsiderate and illogical are branding the other 95 percent of us with their actions. In our defense, however, the residents of Macomb could open their minds to see that not all students are the heinous, drunken monsters they portray us to be.
But when students choose to throw snow and ice balls at passing cars because their sports team won, how can residents view them as intelligent, respectful individuals? If we want to heal the wounds some of our fellow students have caused, we must start at the source.
Alcohol is present on most college campuses, and on ours it is often the root of situations that leave people shaking their heads. Whether their actions result in violence or vandalism, some students are obviously not capable of making smart decisions during or after drinking. Drawing on your friend's face with permanent marker is fine; peeing on someone's porch during the walk home from a bar is not.
The problem isn't the fact that we drink. It's what we do as a result of our drinking that must be changed. Some students are only here while classes are in session. Macomb isn't their town; they don't really live here. But other people do.
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