EDITORIAL Thank you, but...

This past week, a letter was sent to prospective graduates from Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students Dr. Robert Bonfiglio announcing the decision to hold the May commencement ceremonies out.side on the lawn behind the mansion. We would like to commend the administration, specifically President Dr. Antoinette Iadarola, for arriving at the judgement to return graduation to its traditional location. In addition, thank you to the senior class officers and other concerned students for fighting for something they believed in and for achieving their goal.

Even though this year's graduation ceremonies have been moved out of the Dixon Center, there are still some unanswered questions that need to be brought to the attention of the administration. According to the letter from Bonfiglio, it is "highly unlikely" that future classes, due to their increased size, will have their ceremonies outside on the mansion lawn. Just where does the school plan to put them? The legal and safe capacity of the Dixon Center would have been easily surpassed had this year's class of almost 550 expectant graduates graduated in the building Dixon Center possibly be considered a location for future commencement ceremonies? It is our hope that the administration is exploring other alternatives than the too-smallDixon Center.

Now that commencement has been moved from inside to outside, the number of tickets provided to each graduate has dropped from four to three. If the cramped confines of the Dixon Center were to allow the senior class to have four tickets each, why now, when the commencement has been moved to the open space behind the mansion, are seniors allowed only three tickets? It seems to us that the graduates are being punished for their expressed disapproval of a Dixon Center graduation.

Dr. Iadarola, the right decision has been made to relocate this year's graduation ceremonies outside behind the mansion. Unfortunately, there are still improvements, like the amount of tickets allotted to each student, that need to be rendered in order for this commencement to be a true success.

Melissa Lessig

Most young adults my age, age 20, have at least one grandparent still with them to impart wisdom, love and support and to share the joys and sorrows of life. Unfortunately, all four of my grandparents have passed, and it has left an intense void in my life.

My father is an extremely strong, independent and successful individual. However, his mother, my grandmother, Elizabeth Lessig, died when he was just 13 years old. My dad has four brothers and one sister and all of them were forced to accept this devastation and live the rest of their lives. From what my dad tells me, his mother was an amazing woman and my dad and my aunts and uncles were changed forever by losing their mother as children.

I never even met my paternal grandmother, but my dad says I resemble her greatly, both physically and emotionally. I love to hear what she was like and how greatly she impacted her family, despite her short life. I feel empty by not having my grandmother and her intelligence, strength and love in my life.

My paternal grandfather, my dad's father, Charles Lessig, died when I was in eighth grade. I was 13 when I lost my grandfather and al- though I did not possess a very deep and close relationship with him, I loved him and I knew he loved me. He took interest in me and what I had to say. He always had a smile for his grandchildren. My grandfather always had some witty words of wisdom from one of his many life lessons that made us laugh, and we remember him happily as a unique individual.

There was so much to learn and appreciate from him. The very fact that he was in World War II truly blows my mind. He risked his life for our country. I had and continue to have nothing but love and respect for my grandfather. My mother's parents have both passed as well and I miss them immensely. My maternal grandfather, Joe Gilroy, 100 percent Irish, died when I was in second grade, and it is sad to say that I have few memories of him, but those I do are filled with love and fun times.

My morn and my aunts and uncles fill me with stories of their father's crazy shenanigans and his hotheaded manner. This grandfather, too, was in World War II, and I can't imagine the horrors he endured for our country. It truly leaves me speechless. I do remember him holding me and playing with me and showing me he cared and these memories will remain with me always.

Perhaps the greatest pain I experienced was the loss of my maternal grandmother, Helen Gilroy. She was the most loving, caring, strong, fair and respected woman I ever knew. She was the center of our entire family and the glue that held the family together. We had a great rela- tionship and she truly supported me in all that I did and she made sure I knew that she loved me, as she did with every single one of her grandchildren. one individual writer or any member of the faculty, staff or administration.

She died when I was 13 years old and her death was perhaps the most earth-shattering and difficult event in my family and every day since her death has not been the same. My heart truly aches because I miss her so. I know my mom feels even stronger because her mother was everything to her. I assure my mother that she carries on my grandmother's legacy as being the greatest mother alive and the most respected and loved woman I know.

At this point in my life, when I have achieved so much and I have developed into a successful, strong, and happy individual, I long to share this with my grandmother, but I know she is watching, smiling and congratulating me from above.

I know we all experience death of loved ones and it changes us permanently, but I want to say that you should not even consider disrespecting your grandparents by calling them old, stupid, annoying or helpless. Grandparents are one of the greatest treasures in our lives and their value is irreplaceable. Learn all that you can from them, cherish the love and support they give you, and respect and honor them for all that they have accomplished and experienced in the past and all that they do for you in the present. I would give anything to be able to have my grandparents in my life again.

The mere fact that I am writing an article on this topic should begin to answer this question. I believe as well as many others that some form of racism exists on this campus. It all depends on who answers this question. I am sure people of non-color may respond to this question by saying, "Racism? No, I haven't seen or heard anything like that on this campus." But if you ask people of color, or "minorities," this question, the response may not be the same. Yes, we all walk around campus with racial blinders on, trying to coexist, but it is still obvious that trying to ignore certain issues does not make them any less important. Racism is not always an act, but an attitude. As seen before on other college campuses, it only takes one spark to ignite a fire.

Does racism exist on campus?

the college based on their financial situation. Income affects all races and it seems that those who can attend Cabrini are white. Is this fair? Is this racist? These are questions that the administration must think about. After all, Mother Cabrini would not approve of turning away ANYONE who wanted a Cabrinian education.

To assess the possibility of the existence of racism on Cabrini's campus, we must look at the problem from multiple perspectives. Racism is a problem that many people do not like to talk about. Nevertheless, we all need to look deep within ourselves and become aware of our thoughts and beliefs concerning this dilemma. As an institution, I feel Cabrini does an adequate job celebrating diversity and making minority groups within the college feel a great sense of equality. Having been a resident on campus for three years,

liilni throughIt together

What is important is what you are about on the inside, not what color your skin is. Now, I know that not everyone here on campus thinks that way, and it would be naive to think that way. Wherever you go, there is racism, and honestly I don't think that will ever change. We all know it is wrong, but it is just the way the world is. Our differences will always bring about competition, leading to those who think that they are better than others are. Diversity is what our world is about, and I believe you can learn a lot from people who are not like you. I often wonder what the world would be like if we were all colorblind. My guess is that the world would be a very different and a much better place.

Ha, ha, that sounded almost real. The reality is that you are going to hang out with your crowd and I will hang out with my crowd, and some are in between. Lacrosse women and men will hang out together, soccer players will hang out together, basketball, softball and more (with some exceptions). This school is made up of cliques and it makes it all the more difficult to get along. The minute someone steps into our happy little circle, we get scared. But the reality of it all will be that eventually we are all going to work together in the real world. You are going to encounter all different types of people, but of course you already know that, but you sure act inferior to that notion. You are going to have to accept the cruel, cold reality of how beautiful diversity is. I will be here for a long time, so don't forget it. Hey, I will probably be your boss someday, or maybe the doctor who has to save your life, or maybe, even better, the teacher that will give you hell. So play this so-called life as a fair game and you will be all right. You don't have to like me, just respect me because I am not leaving. I am here to stay.

In general, I don't perceive Cabrini as a racist campus. This is my second year at Cabrini and I have never witnessed a racial incident. Unfortunately, I believe that there are people on campus who hold racist views. While these people may not be overtly racist, their beliefs can surface subtly, for example, not sitting next to a minority student in class. As an institution, I do not believe that Cabrini is racist, but I feel that the administration should make an effort to generate more diversity on campus and emoll more minority students. I also think that it is important for there to be clubs on campus, such as the Latino and Friends Club, that reach out to the entire campus community, enabling students from different backgrounds to learn more about each other.

This is a problem that I believe exists everywhere, and I am fairly sure that there are isolated incidents that occur on every college campus throughout the nation that draw the same concerns that Cabrini and its staff are having today. It is very hard to alter a person's beliefs when these beliefs have been instilled in that person's mind at a very young age. I feel that racism on our campus exists equally in both directions. It is not just one group that has racist beliefs and emotions, it is small groups located throughout the campus. When I am asked the question, is Cabrini a racist campus, I believe the correct answer is yes. I also believe that there is no short-term solution to the problem. We have to look at ourselves and acknowledge these differences and not allow these differences to negatively alter our perceptions of another group of people. For many people, this isn't an easy thing to do.

'l,.j;,avlngracism at the gates

This question was raised in Janet Lehman's Race and Ethics class and responses were taken from students in the class. Names were withheld by request of the students. I feel that the problem concerning racism lies within individual students throughout the campus. Cabrini College does have a serious problem. Many may have denied any such problem, but I am here to say that yes, there is a problem with racism. Commonly, racism is better known on large campuses. However, I beg to differ. I am a third-year student and feel it has not changed. It is concealed. I demand that Cabrini take a stand now before it blows up in its face. This is not a threat-it is the truth. Why, you may ask, and how do I know such allegations? Because I have been hurt by racism. You do not know what racism is until it happens to you. And do not assume that half of a very small group of minorities are here because of affirmative action. Though I justify affirmative action, I am not here because of it. Most of the minorities are in this school because of merit and academics. I know specifically of a few students that have a 3.2 GPA or better. I just want you guys to let me do my thing. Let me have a good year and stop following me everywhere I go. I am here for the same reason you are-education and fun. We all worked hard to get here, so why don't we do it together?

I do not think that we have a problem with racism here at Cabrini College. I have not seen or heard of any incidents that would make one believe that racism is an issue. Everyone is different in his or her own way and I think everyone respects that here on campus.

Being a Caucasian at Cabrini College, my first answer to this question would be no. I have not experienced racism myself, nor have I heard the minority population on campus complaining about racial inequality. On the other hand, if you look at the statistics, the whole minority population on campus is only 10 percent. So, I ask myself the question again, is Cabrini College a racist campus? While I do not think Cabrini discriminates on the basis of a person's skin color, I do think Cabrini discriminates based on consequences. To be a full-time student at Cabrini, the tuition is $13,900 a year and room and board is $6,900 a year, not including a general fee of $500 a year, a student activities fee of $150 a year, and a computer/technology fee of $100 a year. Getting a degree from Cabrini is very expensive for a student who may come from an upper-middle class family, and it is virtually impossible for someone whose family may be poor. It is very upsetting to think that many prospective students are being turned away for enrollment into

I was asked the question, "Does racism exist on Cabrini's campus?" To many, that is probably a very complex question. To me it is very simple. Many people in our society tend to run away from the truths and realities of the everyday world. To those people, if asked, "Does racism exist?" they would come up with some lame and bull excuse about how it used to or how some people are just immature and so forth and so on. But where I am from and in the real world that I live in, racism exists. Have you watched the news lately? Does the KKK or Mr. Farrakhan ring a bell? If so, then why would it be any different in our "perfect'' Cabrini community? Just the fact that I was asked if racism exists made me realize how gullible some people can really be by asking this question. As "great" and "wonderful" of a place people may think of our campus community, what makes it any different that the world that we live in? Yes, it would be nice to think that at Cabrini, racism does not exist, but let's question the reality in that. Does someone's racist thoughts and ideas get dropped off at the gates on King of Prussia Road? Or do these thoughts and ideas get left at home in their neighborhood for the school year? To me, racism is a problem that our society faces all the time. Fights, shootings, stabbings and deaths are a result. They may not be a headline on the front page of the Philadelphia Inquirer or any other newspaper,but look at pages 8, 9 and 10 and see what you find. This article is not meant to say racism is a serious issue on our campus, nor does it say my thoughts are definitely true, but what in the latter can you honestly say is false? Did I answer the question?