2008 Woodie Awards
Why you should care and how to get involved
Matt Lanza, Staff Writer
Issue date: 3/8/06 Section: Opinion
Student apathy at the university level is a problem that consistently faces Sonoma State. Is it surprising to anyone else out there that students at Sonoma State are apathetic? I know that we all have classes, jobs, significant others, and 8 million other things to do with our lives. Why should we care about the issues affecting our student body? Students just don't know what the news and issues are on our campus.
For example, how many of you as Sonoma State students know that our men's basketball team is first in their division? I'll chance to say that maybe one in 4 of you actually know this, and probably even less care. I even went around and asked students on the quad, and out of the five I asked, only one knew!
This is a staggering fact as I cannot remember the last time our team was this good. I've been here for three and a half years, and it certainly hasn't been in that time. No disrespect to any former or current players, but our team is absolutely amazing this year. Sports are usually the pride of each university and we at Sonoma generally aren't cutting it.
The apathy of students here extends beyond sports. This lack of student knowledge concerning the campus is annoying at best, and frightening at worst.
But we've all heard it before. "I'm busy," "It's too much effort," and "it's boring." While these things may be true, there is a place for every student to become active on our campus.
It's common for the average student to want to 'get involved,' but the excuses come flying out after that.
There are hundreds of opportunities to get involved. Every week there are presentations and lectures surrounding issues from the Holocaust to global warming, all free to students. Every night of the week there is usually a program put on by students, with student fees, for students. It's disturbing how the only programs attended by students with some regularity are those where the opportunity to consume alcohol is present.
For example, how many of you as Sonoma State students know that our men's basketball team is first in their division? I'll chance to say that maybe one in 4 of you actually know this, and probably even less care. I even went around and asked students on the quad, and out of the five I asked, only one knew!
This is a staggering fact as I cannot remember the last time our team was this good. I've been here for three and a half years, and it certainly hasn't been in that time. No disrespect to any former or current players, but our team is absolutely amazing this year. Sports are usually the pride of each university and we at Sonoma generally aren't cutting it.
The apathy of students here extends beyond sports. This lack of student knowledge concerning the campus is annoying at best, and frightening at worst.
But we've all heard it before. "I'm busy," "It's too much effort," and "it's boring." While these things may be true, there is a place for every student to become active on our campus.
It's common for the average student to want to 'get involved,' but the excuses come flying out after that.
There are hundreds of opportunities to get involved. Every week there are presentations and lectures surrounding issues from the Holocaust to global warming, all free to students. Every night of the week there is usually a program put on by students, with student fees, for students. It's disturbing how the only programs attended by students with some regularity are those where the opportunity to consume alcohol is present.