Editorial A Resurgence of Apathy?

Author: [no author name found]

Instead of the usual patchwork of opinions, this week's facing page carries a call for submissions. That's because we did not receive a single original opinions piece this week - only responses to past coverage in the form of letters to the editor.

The malaise of student apathy has lifted noticeably since Sept. 11, 2001, left its indelible mark on American consciousness. Middlebury students' renewed interest in international affairs guaranteed a steady stream of substantive opinion contributions. The War in Iraq reinforced the trend. And again, the activity on our pages was a reliable barometer of that engagement.

We even published a feature article in the May edition of our magazine Also that traced to the rebirth of political activism on campus. Middlebury was in the midst of a renaissance of student awareness. The bubble, it seemed, had burst.

The momentum has now hastened at a time when it is more vital than ever.

Casualties continue to mount in Iraq as the Bush administration struggles to reconstruct a nation in turmoil. The U.S. Senate recently passed a ban on partial-birth abortion. And just this Sunday, Episcopal Church consecrated its first-ever openly gay bishop at the University of New Hampshire's stadium. As the spectators cheered, hate groups clustered outside and church leaders worldwide threatened a schism.

These national and international issues all deserve a place in public discourse. But the College community itself also provides a wellspring of topics on which to espouse an opinion.

Take Winter Term, a staple of the Middlebury academic calendar that must survive a review by a divided faculty if it is to continue. Or the Student Government Association finally filling its Senate. Now that the house is full, senators need their constituents - and that means you - to offer suggestions for initiatives.

The College's sexual assault policy also underwent a comprehensive review. The Community Council now must settle on the specifics of anonymous reporting, a crucial mechanism to help gather accurate statistics about the pervasiveness of the problem on campus.

The student body must take ownership of the issues and resist a retreat into the proverbial bubble.

The importance of international, national and campus-related events demands it.