Thewake-upcallthathurts EDITORIAL Sharingtheirtalents

Included in the college's mission statement is an emphasis on community service. Students need to perform a set amount of hours of service in accordance with t_heir graduation requirements. Many students will only commit to what is required of them. However, two groups of students, the improv troupe and the men's lacrosse team, are taking it upon themselves to truly fulfill the college's mission by extending their services to others without being forced to do so.

The improv troupe, along with theater director Neal Newman, are giving their time and talent to students of Don Guanella, a school for boys with developmental disabilities. They are teaching the children acting and improvisational skills. Members of the men's lacrosse team are spending parts of their Sundays helping out at a lacrosse camp for young boys.

We would like to commend and acknowledge the improv troupe and the men's lacrosse team for their acts of community involvement. Perhaps other students, including ourselves, can learn a lesson from their achievements.

Intelligent drinking

At some point in our college years, most of us have binge drank or will binge drink, probably on more than one occasion. Although we are not promoting binge drinking, which is considered five or more drinks for men and four or more for women, if the situation does arise it should be done responsibly and not for the wrong reasons.

According to the related story, short-term effects of binge drinking can include problems like lower grades and missed classes. These problems arise only if you allow them to. It takes a little thought to realize that if you have a test or an important class you should not drink heavily the night before.

Aside from knowing how to drink responsibly, the only motivation for drinking should not be social acceptance or to feel comfortable amongst your peers. Drinking should be done because you want to, not because you feel you have to.

It was like any other day in February, except for the fact that I had off from work. I was getting ready to go to my first Phantoms hockey game with an old friend. I was rushing around trying to find something to wear when the phone rang.

I picked it up and the voice on the other line was fragile and shaky. She asked if my brother was home, which he was not. I told the woman he was out with his friend, Tony. She said she already knew this because Tony is her son and that she had paged him many times but he was not calling her back. There was something in her voice that started to worry me. Finally she said, "I need to get a hold of them because Anthony has committed suicide."

My first instinct was to drop the phone and break down crying, but as I sobbed with this woman on the other line, I tried to caimly give her my brother's pager number.

Anthony was an old friend from high school. Actually, he was one of my brother's good friends. I guess you could say he was part of the "group." There were five of them and they were inseparable. Through my brother, he became a friend of mine. He used to go camping with our family and those times were filled with many laughs and memorable stories.

He was also the one person in high school that was very honest with me. I was naive about some things then and Anthony was the one who would give me a kick in the butt and bring me into realization.

Towards the end of high school, Anthony started drifting apart from everyone. He hung out with a different crowd and became heavily dependent on drugs. It seemed as though he was always able. The question of why kept running through our minds. Was it drugs? Some say he was tired of being a failure to everyone. But no one rea11yknows. getting into trouble.

During the viewing we did not just view our friend's motionless body. We sat in front of him for two hours.

His body was pale, cold and swollen. His lips and hands seemed so fake. He wore a hooded sweatshirt to cover the back of his punctured skull.

The guys did all they could to help him, but anything they did was never enough. Finally, they Jet him drift away.

The end of last year was when things started to look up for Anthony. He became sober. No more drugs, no more alcohol. I saw him two months before his death. He was doing so well; he wouldn't even touch a beer. He was so proud of himself and we were proud of him as well.

At that time something told me that I owed him thanks. Strangely, that night I thanked him for what he did for me in high school. This was strange because I never saw Anthony again.

For days after his death I thought the pain would never cease. The time when I would not cry without thinking of him or seeing his picture was unimagin-

We watched as friends, family and teachers said their good-byes. Some were silent and some broke down in tears crying, screaming and barely able to keep their balance. This was the most horrifying reason to be united with old friends from the past.

It has been seven months since Anthony's death now and some of the pain has healed. Now when I think of him or see his picture I laugh and I am thankful for the memories I do have, but thoughts sti11 scramble through my mind like, why? I wish drugs were never a part of his life.

I still have one thing though, and that is his laugh. I can still hear it as clear as day. I know I will never forget that sound or the memory of our old friend.

"Just when we've got our whole life together we get another shove-a reminder of how much we do not knO\\ and how much we are not in charge."-Sue Bender. JulieShallisis a juniormajoringin English/ communication.Sheis oneof Loquitur's newsedrtors. -

LETTER To THE EDITOR

Hello, my Cabrini family. In today's world there are many psychological situations that we as a society must deal with and endure. The one that I am concerned with was first studied after World War II as a result of Adolph Hitler's tyrannical leadership. That authoritarian personality is believed to be a result of a domineering father and a punitive mother. This complex is shown by very directive and controlling rules. T)lese regulations are seldom explained and the leader stays away from colleagues in order to create a more leader-dependent society. The person suffering from this complex reacts to his parents' burdens by becoming an adult who bullies and punishes those who do not conform. The persons that do conform are believed to be wonderful and accepted under bis protective blanket.

I am not a psychologist and I do not have the capabilities to analyze anybodyon a professional plane. I can show the facts and allow you all to formulate your own independent opinions.

In the last six months, the following events occurred. Let's begin with the Marquis. No real answers were given on what happened to the students who were supposed to be living there, even though the Loquitur attempted to get answers.

Next was the chaotic graduation. This decision of putting over 3,000 people in the Dixon Center, which was designed to hold a little over 2,000 people, was never explained. It was placed in the Dixon Center against the graduating class' wishes.

New and 'modified' rules have plagued this school in the last six months. For example, the new alcohol poisoning rule mentioned last week or the mysterious probation rule that only affects the non-conformists on campus. If you are on a Cabrini board, you were let off this ever-changing policy.

Lastly, there is a lack of power delegated to any part of the Stu-

Thefollowing poem was submitted by nurse Sue Fitzgeraldfor AlcoholAwarenessWeek.

I went to a party, Mom, I remembered what you said

You told me not to drink, Mom, so I drank soda instead.

I really felt proud inside, Mom, the way you said I would.

I didn't drink and drive, Mom, even though the others said I should.

I know I did the right thing, Mom, I know you are always right.

Now the party is finally ending, Mom, a~everyone is driving out of sight

As I got into my car, Mom, I knew I'd get home in one piece.

Because of the way you raised me, so responsible and sweet

I started to drive away, Mom, but as I pulled out into the road,

The other car didn't see me, Mom, and hit me like a load.

As I lay there on thepavement,Mom, I hear the policeman say, dent Government Association. The conduct review board judges people's write-ups. This board can vote a person not guilty and someone can change the verdict. It has happened in the past. This year's SGA board tries to do many things but continually gets shot down because our dean does not want certain things to happen here. The explanation for many of the things that have occurred is, "it's in our best interest." If this is so, and Cabrini claims to create adults, then why is that "interest" in conflict with the one of the student body? If we are adults, and we are, then we should be able to tell them what our "best interests" are and they should listen to us.

1be other guy is drunk, Mom, and now I'm the one who will pay.

I'm lying here dying, Mom. I wish you'd get here soon.

How could this happen to me, Mom? My life just burstlike a balloon.

In closing, what is the common threat here? Who is making these decisions and why? I think we are all intelligent enough to see who the authoritarian personality is here.

Your Sibling, Andy Virtue