From someone who cares
I was not able to finish my thoughts at the town hall meeting and for that reason, I am writing this letter. I had two minutes to squeeze in years of frustration and emotion. I thought long and hard about the words that I wanted to speak, and somehow, I still stumbled.
I want to make it very clear that I do care. I care about the day-to-day issues, difficulties, and challenges that every single individual or group faces on this campus. I will do everything in my limited power to help anyone who needs it. Anyone who knows me at all, knows this is true.
The point I was trying to make is that we are all in for a rude awakening. In the hustle and bustle of the real world, no one cares if we don’t feel supported. No one cares if something isn’t the way we want it to be. That’s just the plain truth. I’m not saying that’s a good thing, I’m not saying that that’s the way it should be. It’s not. It falls on us - the next generation - to change this giant misfortune.
Our job is to care. Monmouth College is not big; 900 people is not a lot. But, when we leave, we have the chance to be 900 more people in world who do care. We have to come together as one community and listen to each other, support each other, and raise each other up. I understand that marginalized groups feel unheard on campus, but there are a lot of nonmarginalized people who do too. It’s a campus-wide issue and we are the only ones who can fix it. You can’t ask someone to care about you if you don’t care about them.
I’m done trying to hide the fact that I’m conservative from some people. I’m done acting like I don’t like some of President Trump’s policies. I’m done saying “but I’m not racist or crazy” after I say that I am in College Republicans. The stereotypes have to stop, across the board.
Monmouth College students, we have all expressed similar concerns about the brokenness of our community. We are the only ones who can mend the relationships, trust, and dialogue between us. Let’s all start caring.
Emma Hildebrand
Features Editor