Acorn

Issue date: 2/1/08 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Kelsi Bitgood

The infamous New Year's resolution: exercise, eat right and get organized. We make personal goals every year to better ourselves. Our Drew centered life should be no different.

In this spirit, The Acorn has some resolutions to offer the University.


1. Pro-active activism. Drew students are good at a lot of things-and complaining is one of them. Keen observation and ability to speak out for areas in the community that need improvement are needed to help the Drew community move forward and evolve. Yet students also need to act on their criticisms and try to improve the conditions they find lacking without casting too much blame elsewhere. Shape up or shut up.

2. Sodexho. Drew Dining started off and ended poorly last semester. Service was slow, options were few and quality declined. However, things are looking up now. With the vegetarian and vegan selection growing, and the special chef events, Drew students seem pleased with Sodexho's semester start. Sodexho must resolve to keep this up.

3. Carbon footprint. The University has made a commitment to the global community to become more energy efficient and more environmentally savvy. Let's make sure all inhabitants of the Forest continue to carry on this promise. Students need to evaluate themselves-are we really doing all we can in our everyday lives? We need to keep our campus clean and conscious. Recycle, reduce use of water bottles, take only the amount of food you will eat at the Commons and shut off your lights, televisions and computers when they're not in use.

4. Student leaders. Step it up! There are a lot of important, influential people on campus who can make a big difference in the lives of Drewids by their actions. And guess what? They're students! Most importantly, our Student Government Association is lacking. Pass more than one bill and one with substance-paying bureaucratic lip service to your own process while ignoring the needs of the student body does not count. Make changes for the betterment of the campus. Lead the student body.

5. Presidential visibility. Weisbuch, where are you? The more we see you around, the better. And the more you are around, the better you will know the students-their needs, their concerns, their suggestions. How about on the path, among the students, at athletic meets and a cappella concerts? Moreover, where is your cabinet? Drew's administrators ended last semester well with their more obvious dedication to getting to know the student body and their response to its needs. It recognized that town hall meetings were not the answer to a lacking student engagement and took some initiative to reach out to students. Drew needs more of that this semester and in the future.

6. Campus dignity and pride. Respect goes both ways. Beginning with Public Safety-but not excluding Facilities, Sodexho workers and faculty-the students should be treated with respect. Along with members of the community, the student body needs to treat Drew with greater dignity. We need to make a better attempt to show our school loyalty and pride-attend athletic and artistic events in greater numbers.


New Year's resolutions are usually easily broken-carrots replaced by cookies, exercise plans swept under the futon, notes scattered in drawers never to be found again. But take these ideas to heart and take them seriously. After all, we'll be watching.

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