2008 Woodie Awards
Apathy: Is it killing the Stevens campus?
Bryan Long
Issue date: 9/28/06 Section: Opinion
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Over the course of my three years at Stevens, I have noticed that a majority of the students have one common character trait: apathy. Apathy is defined as a lack of emotion, enthusiasm, or motivation. I think apathy is almost like a disease on this campus and that it has impacted aspects of campus life ranging from academia to the social atmosphere.
Everyone can remember themselves as a freshman, bright eyed and ready to try out new clubs and make new friends; however, this fervor is short lived. I personally remember staying up until five in the morning playing Super Smash Bros. Melee with my peers in Davis, or going on random trips to White Castle or New York City only hours prior to a quiz. In those days everyone lives with a sense of spontaneity that makes Stevens seem like your typical run of the mill college.
It is during this time period that most Stevens' organizations try to recruit students since they have that "new energy" as many say. This holds true for Greek organizations, RSOs, and various other organizations on campus. One would think that the individuals with "new energy" would motivate their somewhat exhausted elders and that the campus would be booming with life; however, that is definitely not the case. As students spend progressively more time at Stevens things like student loans, homework, and maintaining/obtaining a job slowly eat away at their initial enthusiasm and sense of adventure, which dampens their sense of spontaneity. In some cases individuals lose their energy by seeing the lack of motivation in their elders and thus the disease spread via person to person contact. This indifference begins to permeate into one's social life, academics, and extracurricular activities. I am that anyone that has participated in a club on this campus has seen what I am talking about and in some cases could be frustrated by it. Over time the disease known as apathy leads to disgruntled students with comments such as "Man this campus blows", "There's nothing to do", or "I wish something could be done about this Stevens ratio". Instead of taking up a positive attitude and doing something about it, a lot of students would rather sit around and grumble about it much like old people do. I am guilty of it from time to time, but I make efforts to keep fun, spontaneity, and enthusiasm in my college career.
Everyone can remember themselves as a freshman, bright eyed and ready to try out new clubs and make new friends; however, this fervor is short lived. I personally remember staying up until five in the morning playing Super Smash Bros. Melee with my peers in Davis, or going on random trips to White Castle or New York City only hours prior to a quiz. In those days everyone lives with a sense of spontaneity that makes Stevens seem like your typical run of the mill college.
It is during this time period that most Stevens' organizations try to recruit students since they have that "new energy" as many say. This holds true for Greek organizations, RSOs, and various other organizations on campus. One would think that the individuals with "new energy" would motivate their somewhat exhausted elders and that the campus would be booming with life; however, that is definitely not the case. As students spend progressively more time at Stevens things like student loans, homework, and maintaining/obtaining a job slowly eat away at their initial enthusiasm and sense of adventure, which dampens their sense of spontaneity. In some cases individuals lose their energy by seeing the lack of motivation in their elders and thus the disease spread via person to person contact. This indifference begins to permeate into one's social life, academics, and extracurricular activities. I am that anyone that has participated in a club on this campus has seen what I am talking about and in some cases could be frustrated by it. Over time the disease known as apathy leads to disgruntled students with comments such as "Man this campus blows", "There's nothing to do", or "I wish something could be done about this Stevens ratio". Instead of taking up a positive attitude and doing something about it, a lot of students would rather sit around and grumble about it much like old people do. I am guilty of it from time to time, but I make efforts to keep fun, spontaneity, and enthusiasm in my college career.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Dhwani Shelat( Class of 2009)
posted 9/28/06 @ 2:47 PM EST
I personally agree with your article.Everyone is bubbly when they walk in as freshman.But with passage of time, the enthusiasm dies.And when someone who continues to be active even after few months of freshman year, they are considered "ABNORMAL". (Continued…)
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