Wash U Apathy

"How well we come through the era of globalization will depend on how we respond ethically to the idea that we live in one world." --Peter Singer, Princeton Professor of Bio Ethics

Great article...original premise is how horrible and absolutely pathetic Wash U is at not even meeting the bare minimum of recycling standards...but the author does extend it to other issues.

Money quote:

Where has our pride gone? - Student Life: "We have all heard of the 'Wash U. Bubble' where academia and partying take precedence over other priorities. At one point or another we all have fallen into this trap of only seeing narrow bands of importance in our college lives. But this does not give us the right to renege on our personal responsibilities that we once took pride in adhering to. It seems as though once thrown into the college scene, many of us (myself included) become so wrapped up in our own desires and aspirations that we refuse to respond to issues that once compelled us. "

I'll admit that here in London, my recycling competence has fallen somewhat dramatically. Compared to Germany or California, this city truly saddens me by simply not giving me the option. At least I can manage it for paper at work... But for all the bio/GMO awareness, somehow the Brit's have forgotten about the other part of the cycle...garbage.

Anyway, Wash U is even worse. Consider the fact that most trash cans have recycling containers within a 10 foot radius and yet students/faculty STILL don't recycle. Not to mention that take away campus eateries use WAY too much in terms of packaging, virtually none of which is reusable or recyclable. And then there's the library and the Arc lab, where small forests are destroyed every day... So, when the leading Green movement on campus is merely a social club for sorority girls and they blatantly ignore notices about the library's wastefulness, what's to be done?

By all means call me terribly jaded, but I have the most difficult time seeing students on this campus actually extending themselves beyond their own lives and thinking about the logical consequences of their actions and choices. Life remains about them, their books, their drinks, their future salary, and (usually) their imediate friends. Let's tie some more articles together. Do we see awareness and compassion for workers who are suffering under injust labour practices employed in developing nations? Not if it gets in the way of our sneakers or our Taco Bell....God Forbid we didn't have a crappy Taco Bell on Campus! I grant that these specific issues merit further investigation into the truth and severeness of activist allegations...but I'm addressing the student/campus response--and it's inexcusably self centered! It may be difficult to cause direct change in these matters, but we can still refuse to play a part in a societal wrong. Silence (or purchase) is consent. If you like your tacos flavoured with the blood of laborers, keep chomping down (so that was a bit extreme..I hope).

I don't even have to say more than "SWA" for another example.... it was never about the issue, always about the tactics and the inconvenience factor for most of the student body. Well, being poor despite working crazy hours in the best job your background can provide and not being able to make ends meet enough to advance yourself further isn't exactly convenient either, now is it? LOOK AT THE WHOLE PICTURE!

The earth is not a renewable resource. It is our human responsibility to leave it a better place than that which we left it, whether it be though environmental consciousness, social justice awareness, or other measures--ideally all. Just stop taking more than your fair share and whining for more. Be capitalist and reap the rewards of your work--but GIVE BACK and thing long term and beyond your own personal immediate boundaries.... that's what college should be about, not the self centred work-play that Wash U has become.

Now, to place this all within bounds and proper perspective, I admit that all this big picture dreaming needs to have a proper plan attached. Thus, again, SWA needed to be more ready to convert it's activism into real propositions and implementation plans. Change requires both. And as grudgingly as I say it, we must accept human laziness as a fact and commit to more rigorous recyling initiatives with bins in more locations on campus and less susceptable to contamination....I won't touch the other issues for now, but we must promote our own awareness of the world outside our own selves and then work to develop real plans for improvement. I'm talking initiatives like this story in the Economist (free)--it put's a price on environmental initiatives and thus creates a profitable opportunity out of creating a more eco-friendly world. Brilliant.

It's debateable depending on your philosophy, but I feel that the gifts that Wash U students generally have--their mostly American passports, wealth (generally), intelligence, a top notch degree on the way, cars for money....we are the upper eschelon of WORLD SOCIETY. How can we simply exist as parasites, sucking off the blood of the less fortunate? We must have a symbiotic, bi-directional learning and caring relationship with the rest of the world, whether it be fellow man, animal, or plant. So open your eyes, hands, and hearts and put those brains to work.

-rabid dreamer checking out.