When one night can change your attitude

My adventure began as I was sitting outside the mansion around 3 a.m., thinking about a couple of personal issues I had. After about a half hour, two of my classmates, Kelli Duffy and Donna Orsini, drove by and needed money for Dave Matthews Band tickets.

COM1\1ENTARY NICK LUCHKO

Everybody has problems. Sometimes they are big, sometimes they are small.

However, here at Cabrini College most of the students feel that every problem that occurs is a drastic crisis.

I am guilty of this at times, but after what I did this past Friday, I know now that the problems here at Cabrini are not that bad.

I gave them the cash and they asked me if I wanted to go down to Veterans Stadium and get a ticket as well.

I was already going to go to Tower Records later in the morning to get the tickets, but I said yeah and went to the Vet to sleep out.

I went to my room, got my Walkman and blanket, and was on my way.

When we got there, we found our place in line and I settled in for a long night.

As I sat there in the cold, I thought about my life and how things were going.

But as the night got longer and colder, I began to think about an issue that would have never entered my mind when I got there: the homeless.

Although I was there to get Dave Matthews tickets, I felt as though there was another reason that I was there.

As I continued to think about the homeless, I realized that these people actually stay out in this weather all night, all the time.

When I think of people who complain about the living conditions here at Cabrini, I wish I could tell them the feeling that I had sleeping on that hard concrete with the wind blowing through my hair. All I had was my blanket.

The homeless stay out all through the night and have no place to stay.

At least here at Cabrini you have a place where the heat is turned on.

I also went the night without any food or drink. I then turned my attention to the cafeteria.

Sure, the food sucks at times, but at least there is something.

These people have no food. They have to go through the garbage to get a half-decent meal.

After reflecting, I could not believe how much I really did have and how much I complain about the little things in life.

I feel that this time of sitting in the cold was one of the best things I have ever done.

Not only because I got my Dave Matthews tickets, but because I realiz~d how much I have in life and that to complain about petty things is selfish and inconsiderate on my part.

Just remember the next time you complain about the food or the living conditions, you don't have it that bad.

You could be sleeping out on the street with nothing to eat, like so many Americans in today's society.

Ampus Is Among The Students Themselves

asses than I do at my own home parish. iller's article also mentions the Search retreat. I nally gone on the Search retreat and loved it. If to read the blue pamphlet about Search, you that it is based on Christian themes. But regardur religious background, you can attend Search positive experience. the same as a Catholic per- eb. 27 until March 5, a group of around 30 stuto West Virginia, giving up their spring break to who are economically disadvantaged. was~tj._oned about Hunger and Homeless n students helped raise mon~yfor the homeless •ng "Arrested for Hunger," in which you C,:m!d rs, staff, friends, etc. arrested. After being arwould then have to raise money to bail themf the "hunger jail." umber of students spent the night sleeping out-

•cle does not mention anything about any of the ams that Campus Ministry works on.

B vr RACE:1.s .soP-~R.l'rWh'I! CAtV H~ JT?

side to feel what it is like to be homeless and to raise awareness of homelessness.

Last semester, Campus Ministry held a prayer service for those livmg with the HIV virus and AIDS, their families and friends. Even though attendance was low, it was inspiring. No matter how much we talk about activities, put up flyers, leave campus wide messages, and put things in mailboxes, students make their own decision on whether o·i not to participate in Campus Ministry sponsored events Students can not be forced to attend activities on this campus, especially activities dealing with religion.

Yes, Cabrini College is Catholic, but in regards to the curriculum of the Religion Department, there are many religions. As part of a diverse world, it is important to understand and celebrate diversity. We can not go around forcing _people to be a part of something that they do not want to be ; part or, .u,2-we certainly can not force religion down the throats of others.