By
Let's ask the students involved in one of Ball State's 300 plus student organizations. Let's ask those that write, edit and design this newspaper. How about the students that participate in Hall Councils or in the greek system? Let's ask those that spend hours perfecting their words for the speech and debate team, volunteer their time to make lives better for others, or the 3,000 students that tailgated before the homecoming football game.
The student apathy debate is back like an ugly girlfriend that won't leave. The topic resurfaced again in the SGA presidential election, so allow me to prove a few points, provide my perspective, and send our girlfriend on her way.
Apathy is defined as, "showing no interest in things generally found exciting." Saying that student apathy exists is the same as saying that students have no interests. Those who believe in student apathy are wrong and are belittling every student on this campus because students do have personal interests and participate in events that are interesting and exciting to them.
Last Tuesday night, SGA's governance forum debate had 20 in attendance. Some may say that the turnout for those important events is because students are apathetic. If so, how do the same people explain that the same night 513 students sold out Cardinal Hall to listen to Jeff Corwin, while other students swamped the student section for Men's Basketball game?
Those students are not apathetic; they are just not interested in the new governance structure. They prove to have interests, just not governance interests.
I met with Alonzo a week ago. He is buying rental properties and remodeling a house himself to eventually supply students with a quality place to live.
During our conversation he mentioned that he was the captain of Ball State's Lacrosse Club. The club sports at Ball State are not well funded and have little support to survive. He spent more $4,000 and planned fundraisers to provide equipment for his teammates. He battled administrators to gain access to the practice turf, and he planned awareness events to potentially begin a program for Muncie's youth. He did all of this while attending class, holding a job and motivating his team for their first game this Saturday.
But Alonzo isn't interested in SGA. He hasn't used the Counseling and Psychology Center, nor became a member of a Greek Organization. But he has interests in what he thinks is exciting.
When I was an RA, I planned educational events. I blamed myself for poor turn outs because I didn't make the event interesting or create the interest in my residents. I did not, however, blame my director for my faults.
Calling students apathetic is saying that students have no interests. The overwhelming support students poured into the community during Sept. 11 proves that students do care and do want to get involved.
As student leaders, it isn't the student body's fault for not showing interest in your visions. You have to create a demand and motivate others to develop an interest in what is important. It is time we dump our ugly girlfriend by understanding that apathy does not exist and start paying attention to those that are involved.
Write to Tommy at tbrector@bsu.edu
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
