The_Rambler_1989-03-06

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Volume 59 Number 11 SUNY College of Technology at Farmlngdale Morch 6, 1989 Flamblep
COLLEGE OF T--;;-' ••OLOGY
FARMINGDALE. NY 11735
A Campus Epidemic LIBRARY/SERIALS DEPT.
By Pat Lugo
Rambler Staff Writer
There's an epidemic on campus this year.
It is not the measles. In fact, it is a disease that has
no simple cure. Call it apathy.
The Mirriam-Webster dictionary defines
apathy as such: Lack of emotion, lack of interest
& indifference. While the Rambler, as well as
others, have on several occasions addressed this
issue it seems to have made little, if any, differ-ence.
Every year, about four to five thousand
students enroll into day college at Farmingdale.
Each of them pays a mandatory student activities
fee. Yet only a pitiful few know where this
money goes. This money is used to fund
Farmingdale's eight fully funded units, the Ca-reer
Development Office, Psychological Serv-ices,
and most of Roosevelt Hall.
For those who may not know, SUNY
Farmingdale's eight fully funded units consist of
Athletics (all sports teams). The Back Stage
Theater Company, The Campus Activities Board,
The Inter-Dormitory Council, The Islander
Yearbook, The Rambler Newspaper, The Stu-dent
Government Association, and WCTF (the
campus radio station). Each one has suffered the
affects of apathy in one way or another. Listing
the affects of apathy on each unit would be
ludicrous. Listed below instead are but a few
points of specific matters.
Over the course of the past year, many a
student has been quick to cite the shortcomings of
the Campus Activities Board (C.A.B.). Com-plaints
have been voiced about a lack of activities
and the ignorance with which activities are
planned. Events have been cancelled, parties
thrown with music completely contrasting the
tastes of those who would go. Why is it that the
student population as a whole has done no more
than complain? Many say, "C.A.B. doesn'tknow
what we want!" If that is the case, why not inform
them. Others say the leaders of this unit are not
qualified. Yet, would they rather have this unit
led by students who have no conception of what
the unit does, much less the positions of its
leaders? It does not take much to stand outside
the circle and voice criticisms. These criticisms
can only be regarded as hollow statements if
those who voice them are unwilling to enter the
circle and promote its evolution.
Every year, the Islander Yearbook is pub-lished:
the result of the labors of a small number
of people. Come April, the book is finished, thus
any input given then is of no use. Why should the
responsibilities of portraying the events of a
whole school year fall on the shoulders of just a
few?
Those who were here during the 1987-88
school year would know that the Rambler was
printed approximately every other month. This
year the Rambler sees print every two weeks.
With this change, there have been as many
complaints as in previous years, if not more so.
Students and Faculty have.on many occasions
asked:"Why doesn't the Rambler come out on a
definite date?," or"Why are there so few articles
on Important' issues?," or, "Why weren't my
personals printed?," or" Why are there so many
comics?". The list goes on. Answers are varied
but, in essence, the same. This unit, like all
others, is only as capable as the members that
compose it.
Another article was scheduled for the
front page of this issue...it has yet to be handed in.
As a result the responsibility of making up for
this fall upon a few committed individuals. Like
many of the other students on campus they—we
— have jobs as well as classes and on some
occasions must find whatever time possible to
tend to minor details like goin-g home, eating and
sometimes sleeping. What makes the difference
between actiye students and non-active students?
What makes these active students such a minor-ity
on this campus?'!!! The answer is simple and
was stated above: APATHY.
This article is not intended to suddenly
recruit new members. It was written to clarify but
a few of the issues we as active students must
face. Many others have not even been touched
upon. One need not become a member of any
club or organization on campus and devote every
waking moment to it. It is more a matter of quality
over quantity. One well-spent hour will easily
outweigh six poorly-spent hours. With this in
mind, this campus may have a hope of surviving
the epidemic which has plagued this campus.
Pat Lugo is Student Governments's Vice
President