Looking back at high school, so many events and memories that had a world’s importance at times seem so meaningless now. That “F,” that crush and that fight have gone from keeping you up at night to nearly forgotten.
After graduating from the University, it will be the same way. Some of your most disappointing experiences as well as proudest accomplishments will seem so trivial after a few years in the “real world.”
Students need to realize this soon, so they can enjoy college rather than waste their time on petty grudges.
Examples are readily found among campus clubs and the Student Government Association. Last’s year’s drama is still fresh on students’ minds, when it should stay in the past. Student leaders should be concentrating on making this academic year better than the last. It would be a much better use of time than dwelling on animosity toward people they will never have to see again after college.
Last fall, the SGA was turned on its head by a series of revelations made to The Chronicle. First, were private e-mails and documents concerning senior Peter DiSilvio’s successful 2006 campaign for SGA president. At the time, the leaker was anonymous. Since then, Matthew Bisanz, a current graduate student and former SGA justice, has taken responsibility.
He is also suspected by many members of the SGA and others to be the individual that handed over to The Chronicle the 2006-2007 SGA clubs budget. The SGA went so far as to impeach him, and find him guilty of alledgedly violating executive session, though to this day he maintains his innocence.
Now that Bisanz is a graduate, and outside of the SGA’s auspices, none of this matters. Yet there is still paranoia of Bisanzian conspiracies floating through the SGA’s business. It’s past time for the impeachment mess to be put behind.
After the Bisanz-related drama died down, an election fiasco came. DiSilvio and his running mate Russell Akiyama were unopposed incumbents one week, and both disqualified the next. DiSilvio’s grades did not meet standards for candidacy, and registration problems with the University meant Akiyama was not technically a student. While Akiyama bowed out, DiSilvio fought to return to the ballot.
DiSilvio’s efforts failed, but in the wake of his battle to have the SGA change or bend (or break) its rules to accommodate him are many bitter students. Some felt he was out of line, and others thought he had every right to be a candidate for SGA president.
Like the impeachment, it’s old news. The SGA senate would be more productive, and inter-club relations would be much more pleasant, if individuals could learn to put aside their differences over matters they won’t even care about in less than five years.