Require community service
by Eitan Cooper
Op-Ed | 9/15/09
Posted online at 2:53 AM EST on 9/15/09
Just the other day in Sherman Dining Hall, I stood in front of the dessert table, agonizing over which cupcake to claim. While the vanilla frosting has its merits, who can ever refuse chocolate? And Jason, our wonderful omelet/stir-fry/pasta chef, doesn't make it any easier with all of his delicious sauces and toppings to choose from.
And that's just the cafeteria! I'm not even going to get into class shopping; there is literally not enough ink to cover the subject. Do I prefer Chemistry or Computer Science? Akkadian or Greek? All are seemingly life-changing dilemmas.
Here's what I'm trying to say: in my first two weeks at Brandeis, I have noticed that much of what I do involves taking. I can take classes. I can take food from the cafeteria. I can take advice from my academic adviser. I can take information about 50 different clubs at the activities fair. But whatever happened to giving?
Brandeis University prides itself on advocating social justice. It seems somewhat ironic, then, that Brandeis does not push harder for its talented students to live up to the mantra of social welfare.
In order to comply with this ever-present mantra, the University should require community service in order for its students to graduate. For, let's say, two hours a week for just one semester, we should go out into the Boston area and do something charitable. There wouldn't be grades, papers or professors. We could even choose what we want to do.
And because it would be a University requirement, no one would be able to stray away from it. We are required to take classes across a variety of disciplines and even required to take physical education. Brandeis's goal is to mold us into well-rounded human beings. Shouldn't community service be a contributor to the molding process?
True, there are a number of different community service options on campus. And I'm sure many people sign up for a variety of clubs. But by no means do enough members of the student population partake in these activities. If we all stopped for a moment, and just looked around at our environment, we would see that we live in a very selfish community.
And that's just the cafeteria! I'm not even going to get into class shopping; there is literally not enough ink to cover the subject. Do I prefer Chemistry or Computer Science? Akkadian or Greek? All are seemingly life-changing dilemmas.
Here's what I'm trying to say: in my first two weeks at Brandeis, I have noticed that much of what I do involves taking. I can take classes. I can take food from the cafeteria. I can take advice from my academic adviser. I can take information about 50 different clubs at the activities fair. But whatever happened to giving?
Brandeis University prides itself on advocating social justice. It seems somewhat ironic, then, that Brandeis does not push harder for its talented students to live up to the mantra of social welfare.
In order to comply with this ever-present mantra, the University should require community service in order for its students to graduate. For, let's say, two hours a week for just one semester, we should go out into the Boston area and do something charitable. There wouldn't be grades, papers or professors. We could even choose what we want to do.
And because it would be a University requirement, no one would be able to stray away from it. We are required to take classes across a variety of disciplines and even required to take physical education. Brandeis's goal is to mold us into well-rounded human beings. Shouldn't community service be a contributor to the molding process?
True, there are a number of different community service options on campus. And I'm sure many people sign up for a variety of clubs. But by no means do enough members of the student population partake in these activities. If we all stopped for a moment, and just looked around at our environment, we would see that we live in a very selfish community.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Joshua Ephraim
posted 9/16/09 @ 7:03 PM EST
Dear Mr. Cooper,
Thank you for sharing your insight and opinion. I agree that especially a school which emphasizes social justice to the degree Brandeis does should have a more effective structure for community service. (Continued…)
Alan Royals
posted 9/22/09 @ 6:21 PM EST
awful idea... let's start mandating courses in Being a Nice Person and Why Smiling is Better Than Frowning.
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