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Setting aflame denotes engagement

By Kristoffer Munden, Gavel Media Team, on October 26, 2009 3:16 PM

By Kristoffer Munden -

I work every day to move BC for­ward — not just to bring my own BC experience to new heights, but more importantly, that of others. If we fail to move BC forward during our ten­ures here, then we will have failed to heed the call that we all hear on Lin­den Lane during our freshman years: “Go set the world aflame.”

One of the ways that we can move BC forward is to openly explore and discuss ideas — not just ideas that we agree with, but most importantly ideas that we do not agree with. By discussing these ideas, we raise the level of debate on campus and draw in all members of the BC commu­nity.

Indeed, we’ve seen the sour ef­fects that a lack of discussion causes. Last month, ignorant news articles and columns led to an explosion of debate over race relations on campus. We must discuss both sides of the question, “Who is responsible for ra­cial trends on campus?” In doing so, we all come to a greater understand­ing of who we are as individuals and who we are as a BC community.

It’s also imperative that the ad­ministration completely embraces the desire for students to explore ideas. Overall, the administration is ex­tremely supportive. There are many times, however, when the administra­tion lets us down.

The administration refuses to al­low balanced debate on issues such as a woman’s right to choose. Anti-choice speakers frequently speak on campus, whilst pro-choice speakers — if they are even approved in the first place — must be balanced by the presence of an anti-choice speaker.

We must all engage in discussion and debate to decide for ourselves where we stand on an issue, and come to realize why we believe in what we do.

Yes, we have now acknowledged that talk is important. But how do we facilitate all this talking?

First, go to the events that various organizations host. Every day at BC, there are myriad panels and lectures to attend. And if you’re in one club, be sure to attend the events that other clubs organize — including those that you might disagree with or know nothing about.

Second, stay abreast of what’s happening on campus. There are amazing events that happen that very few people happen to know about (did you know that October is Filipino-American History Month? Or that Ariel Levy was on campus?). Check the UGBC and BC calendars regu­larly, and take an extra minute while walking through the O’Neill atrium to peruse the flyers. Read BC’s news sources — “The Heights,” “The Ob­server,” “The Chronicle” and (most significantly!) “The Gavel.”

Third, take what you glean from the events and news sources and mul­tiply it — pay it forward, if you will. If what you learn in a room stays in that room, then what’s the point? Talk about it with you friends and roommates. Ask questions in class. If you’re in a club, try to organize an event representing your point of view. Write letters to the editor, for­ward news articles, and comment on articles online.

Fourth, and most importantly, the administration should embrace the fact that students want to engage. This means that it should adopt a fair student organizations events policy — one that doesn’t impose undue restrictions on speakers and one that allows all viewpoints to be discussed and represented.