Poolproblems

Although the Cabrini administration has once again attempted to do something "for the students," the student body is not taking advantage of that which has been provided to them.

The new Dixon Center boasts a heated pool, water aerobics classes and water activities for the students' use. However, the students are simply not using them. Like so many activities before now, the students are once again showing their apathy and laziness.

Cabrini students have failed to show up for many of the activities planned for them. Everything from the SGA's campus-wide meetings to Bingo nights receive a turnout of only a few people.

Although the fault sometimes rests with the organizations sponsoring the events, some of the fault also lies with the students for being too lazy or apathetic to attend.

The Cabrini community has once again been given an opportunity to do something rather than complain about the College's lack of activities. It is time for students to decide if they want to spend their tuition dollars productively, or if they would rather spend them in their dorm ·rooms, watching Jerry Springer.

I save everything-ticket stubs and wrinkled programs from plays I have attended and performed in, yellowed ribbons from bouquets of flowers and birthday cards from the days before I could even read them. Everything has some type of sentimental value. I can't bear to throw anything away because I just know that I will need it some time down the road. When the shoebox tower in my closet final1y collapsed (my brothers might have needed them for school projects!) I knew it was time to take action.

Upon clearing out my boxes this summer, I found things I didn't even remember I had, like old baseball cards and school projects. I forced myself to throw some things out, but there were other things I just had to hold onto, which I put into yet another box.

This summer, I had hoped to take all of my pictures, ticket stubs and other momentos out of their boxes and organize them into scrapbooks. The idea appealed to my sense of creativity. I found out that making scrapbooks is quite an art form. I bought some basic scrapbook supplies and I even bought a book on the art of creating the perfect scrapbook page. Unfortunately, my pictures are still in a box.

I love looking at old pictures of my family. I asked my grandmother to get out some of her old pictures over the summer. What she produced was a plastic bag full of pictures, none of which were labeled. Although it was fun guessing who everyone was and what year the pictures were taken in and listening to her stories, I couldn't help thinking bow much nicer it would have been if all the pictures were in photo albums. It thing is so fleeting-here today and gone tomorrow. People only seem to care about the present moment. is fun to spend an evening reminiscing, but what will happen when she isn't here to tell me whose smiling faces are in the pictures?

We forget about our roots and all those who came before us who made a path for us to walk on. We forget about creating roots for those to follow. In our narrowmindedness, we only think of our future in terms of money and success, not family and memories.

When I look at all the things I have collected over the years (and how much room it takes up in my closet), I feel the urge to get a jumbo trash bag and begin blindly tossing everything away. What would happen if my grandmother had decided to do the same thing? My family would have no connection to our past. We are a nation obsessed with eliminating the clutter in our lives. In this age of immediacy, we tend to forget about preserving memories for future generations. We can tum on the TV and get the world news in minutes and download information from the Internet in seconds. Everyeo

With the 21st century around the comer, with technology taking over our everyday lives, war and violence threatening our society and disease taking away our loved ones, I want to hold on to the seemingly little things that have mattered in my life. Who knows what the new century bolds?

It may not seem significant now, but years down the road I will be glad for the boxes that are now taking up so much space. It is fun on a rainy afternoon to dig through the boxes of mementos and take a trip down memory lane. I will be able to tell my children about my experiences, but they will also be able to laugh at my grade school projects, see who used to play for the Phillies and read my birthday cards.

It is important not only to organize my memories for my own enjoyment, but I also hope to preserve memories for future generations.

MaryEileenO'Connoris a juniormajoring i English/communication.Sheisoneof Loquitur'sfeatureseditors.Shehopesto organizeherstuffbeforeit createsa fire hazard.

LETTERS To THE EDITOR

Sophomores'advice can help those on their way

Dear Editor,

As current sophomores struggling through this first semester, we feel the need to make known the occurrence of the unavoidable "sophomore slump.'' This slump came to us as a surprise, and we do not want the present first-year students to be unaware of its presence.

When we arrived at Cabrini, our classes were basically chosen for us, we had moderate workloads and plenty was done to make sure our social life was adequate. However, by the end of that funfilled year, we were left on our own to pick out courses, keep our heads straight and still remain "kids." Now, the harsh reality has set in.

Classes sophomore year are undoubtedly more complicated than those "high school'' type classes we were enrolled in as firstyear students. Simply because we no longer have the "it's your first year here" excuses, teachers expect more and expect us to read their minds as to what they want. Nothing is explained to us as we move up this ladder of education, therefore our studies, as well as our own lives, are suffering.

Succumbing to stress, work and even failure has become a very real part of our lives.

It is not only us Cabrini students who go through this slump, nor are we the only ones to be left in the dark about it, but maybe that can change.

Faculty: Work with those of us who are struggling. Be available to your students, understand this is all new to us, and realize that for many of us, failing is a first. Don't expect that just because we have a "year under our belt," we know what the college is all about- understanding anything completely is almost impossible.

First-year students: Enjoy this year. Have fun. Be "kids."

Next year: Enjoy it but expect more work, do that work and expect to become a "grown up" rather quickly.

Sincerely, Some misguided, struggling sophomores

Administrationshouldlistenratherthan criticize

Dear Editor, Cabrini College has been a very enriching experience for me, socially, academically and spiritually. I would like to think it is here where I truly found myself.

Needless to say, I have matured greatly, with Cabrini College holding my hand along the way. However, this religious institution has room for improvement.

Cabrini has changed physically. It seems to be growing and growing at an alarming speed. It is no longer a close-knit community.

I say this because in a close-knit community, an individual is heard. If that individual is happy, the others in the community should be happy for them.

On the flip side, if a member of

Bill: The Story of a TypicalCabriniStudent

by Mike McGann and Joe Elliott

this "tight" community voices concern, the remaining members should listen (and care) as to why that individual is distressed. Sadly enough, this is not so at Cabrini.

The administration does not listen to the students, the ones who pay their salary. President Iadarola, Stephen Lightcap, Penny Becht and others may feel that the Loquitur does not represent the voice of the student body.

The fact is, it does.

I know because I interact with members of this community. I also care why they are distressed. It is appalling that the administration lacks concern for-as well as simple interaction with-the students. Maybe the names above do not feel the Loquitur represents the

WordsofWisdom

student body because they don't want it to. Instead of denying the students' concerns, they should do something about these concerns. It is time we are heard.

Joe Elliott is not bitter; he is a leader, as well as the rest of the students who write for the paper. Therefore, the best advice I can give the administration is read the Loquitur. Act on the students' concerns and frustrations because the newspaper clearly represents how your students feel, including myself.

I feel it is time to bring back that close-knit community.

Yours truly,

Denise M. Gillen Senior

"Man struggles to find life outside of himself, unaware that the life he is seeking is within him"· quote obtained from Secrets of the Heart by Kahlil Gibran.

We'll almost certainly print your comments, especially if they are well thought out and about a relevant subject. Letters should be sent by noon on Mondays. Don't forget to include your name.

E-mail us at laura44@xavier.cabrini.edu