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Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Will Holland, opinion editor dailyopinion@ou.edu • phone: 325-7630 • fax: 325-6051
COMMENTS OF THE DAY » In response to Tuesday’s Our View, “New Crossroads menu better for students, faculty.”
“Except NOTHING adds up to the $6.50 for a meal exchange!” -saxman
YOU CAN COMMENT AT OUDAILY.COM
“I miss the curly fries!” -mythman
STAFF COLUMN
OUR VIEW
Green measures impressive, but more can always be done Walk anywhere on campus and you will likely be able to see at least one person in your vicinity sporting a pair of Chacos. The colorful sandals have become a popular fashion statement, especially for those who support environmentally friendly measures or at least want to look like they do. These days, going green is trendy. But remember, it’s not a fad. Green measures, like recycling and conserving energy, are becoming increasingly important as our natural resources are being depleted at a growing rate. And that’s why we’d like to take a moment to commend OU administrators for the environmentally friendly, on-campus measures that have already been implemented (See page 1 for details). These include the introduction of Green Week, double-sided printing in campus computer labs, electronic pay stubs for campus employees, an increased number of recycling bins and turned-off lights in soda machines on campus, among other green measures. The efforts are substantially more visible on campus compared to just two years ago.
We realize the measures OU has taken to go green are not mandatory, and they take money (something that may be in short supply during the current recession) to implement. But OU has taken those steps and in the process become a leader in the green movement. This is laudable to say the least. We sincerely hope OU keeps this up because, as we said before, going green is not a fad. The administration cannot, however, do it alone. It takes work and sacrifices from everybody on campus. Start out small by making sure to turn out the light every time you leave your dorm room or apartment or by recycling soda bottles. We realize it’s not always easy (we like the convenience of driving over walking to class, too), and nobody’s perfect (by putting out this publication each day we use a lot of paper). But if everyone on campus follows OU’s lead, our university will truly become a force in the environmentally friendly movement. Don’t know where to start? Recycle this paper when you’re done reading it.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR As a junior and a woman at OU, I am stunned at how OU Housing has handled my unique case involving my priority housing permit. I have not lived on campus since my freshman year, but since I work late nights and early mornings in the dorms, I have felt that the safest parking option for me is to buy a priority housing permit. Last year I bought a priority permit, and it was never brought into question, but since OU Parking and Transit made a mistake in giving unqualified freshmen permits, mine has also been taken away. I went up the chain of command within OU Housing and was told that even though I work 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. shifts and a 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. shift, I will have to park in commuter lots and walk across the deserted campus, putting my own safety in jeopardy. I am astonished that a university that values students would put a female student-employee in such a situation. I have been repeatedly told by OU Parking and Transit - and it was published in The Daily - that the only qualifications to receive such a permit are that a “student must have lived in the residence halls for two semesters and completed 24 credit hours.” Under these criteria I should qualify. It is a sad day for Oklahoma when the OU Housing office failed to take my specific situation into consideration and have unofficially amended OU Parking and Transit’s policy. Sarah Harp Political science and anthropology junior
EDITOR’S NOTE: For more information on the sales of priority parking permits, go to OUDaily.com to read the Sept. 2 news story, “Freshmen must exchange incorrect permits.”
‘Can someone be religious and still practice religious studies?’ Along with professional writing, I am a religious studies major. Most people ask me if I’m working toward pastorhood when I share this with them. I then go into a speech I am quite used to giving: religious studies is not seminary. In fact, it’s far from it. S e m i n a r y , w h e re pastors go to learn, approaches religion from a theological standpoint. Religious studies is the academic JELANI study of religion. SIMS Seminar y teaches p e o p l e m o re a b o u t God specifically, while religious studies asks why people worship God and hold a text up as truth in the first place. My endeavors in religious studies thus far have led me to the question: can someone be religious and still practice religious studies? You see, religious studies requires the practitioner to approach religion from an objective, non-judgmental standard (even after the rest of our college classes have drilled into our heads that everything is hopelessly subjective). Approaching various other religions from an objective, open-minded stance might be difficult for someone who has already built their worldview around strong faith-based claims, such as a strong Christian like me. I am constantly tempted to subject the religions and worldviews I study to my own worldview. So lately, I have asked myself, what in the world am I doing in the religious studies department? Here’s my honest answer. I plan on sharing my faith with others throughout life, considering that is what my faith demands, and I want to be educated and well versed in the worldviews and religions I might encounter through others as I am sharing my faith. I am slightly apprehensive about sharing this reason among the religious studies crowd. There is too much motive in it, considering RELS students are supposed to learn to approach other religious systems objectively. Furthermore, our objective study is supposed to lead us to appreciate other religions and eventually validate them. Again, this idea is an object of tension and a stumbling block for me. I am a Christian. My faith is
monotheistic. I believe in one God and one God only. And again, I must ask myself, what in the world am I doing in the religious studies department? Don’t misunderstand me; religious studies has taught me a lot and been very rewarding in many ways so far. However, it is also a battlefield for me, and I sometimes wonder why I have thrown myself onto this battlefield. And if I remain in the RELS department, which I will, then there is only one way I can answer the question I have posed. Yes, one can have religion and be a student of RELS at the same time. Deciding that my answer to the question is yes is a hurtle I have already jumped. The real battle is: How do I explain my yes? I hope the fact that I’m writing this column doesn’t cause you to think that I have an answer yet. I don’t. Religious scholars still struggle to answer this question every day. Students and teachers in this community know that the two choices one has are to leave their personal beliefs at the door or bring them into the room at their own discretion. I have tried both and encountered both undesirable and desirable results at each turn. For now, as I go on learning, I wholeheartedly accept the fact that I have a motive and a rhyme and reason for everything, from brushing my teeth to approaching religious studies. I gladly learn about religion for the purpose of better understanding and approaching people who believe differently, but I won’t validate every single worldview or religion I encounter alongside or above my own for the sake of academia. Perhaps others in the RELS community will accept my motives. Perhaps they won’t. Hopefully, they will realize that I am simply another student in the department, trying to find a proper answer to the question of religion and religious studies. I am simply a student, searching out the proper avenue for my motives and convictions as I am thrust head-on into a world that thinks and believes differently than I do. And along the road, if I finally find a brilliant answer to all I have struggled with here, I will surely let you know.
Jelani Sims is a professional writing and religious studies junior.
STAFF COLUMN
America represents more than just the ‘home of the Sooners’ I want to say something that doesn’t get mentioned enough in the “land of the free and the home of the Sooners.” God bless America. I recently drove to San Antonio for my brother’s graduation from Air Force Basic Training, and at no other point in my life (except for maybe the OUTexas Tech game last year) have I felt the hair-raising, shoulder-shimmy-inducing chills of pride that I felt at the graduation parade. Among the families watch- TJ ing the parade, there were no MOEN divisions of color. Red and blue did not represent locations along the political spectrum, but rather they stood as two of the three colors on the flag being saluted. And black and white represented only the ink on the Constitution our service members pledged to uphold. Everybody was nothing more, or nothing less, than a proud American. The graduation ceremony I witnessed
was an excellent reminder that, despite all The next time you hear “ The Star the doom and gloom showered upon us Spangled Banner,” think about it a little by the media and fellow citizens, we still bit. Don’t let the National Anthem become live in the greatest nation in akin to the meanInstead, think about a the world. ingless but obligWe certainly believed friend or family member in ator y “How are in that statement in grade the military. Or about the you?” of our passschool when we defended ing greetings. every rude or selfish act unlimited opportunities you Instead, think with the phrase, “It’s a have to chase “the American about a friend or free country!” We said the dream.” family member pledge every day. We sang, in the military. Or “This Land is Your Land.” about the unlimWell that land, “from the ited opportunities Redwood Forests to the Gulf Stream you have to chase “the American Dream.” Waters,” is still a pretty great place to Think about how far the nation has live. The country is still based on “lib- come, from slavery to having a black erty and justice for all.” America is still president. Or give the government a silent a “free country,” in the best sense of the shout-out (Too many taxes, but still less term. than France. Good roads are nice. Thanks, So add your favorite version of an gov.). American tune to your iPod and give it Take a minute to think about the rethe recognition it deserves. Give a toast pressed families stuck in a corrupt nation. to America. High-five a random ROTC Pray for the countries in Africa and cenmember. Do something once in a while to tral Asia that are destroyed by illness beremind you how fortunate we are to live cause their people have no access to clean here. water.
T=: O@A6=DB6 D6>AN Jamie Hughes Editor-in-Chief Meredith Moriak Managing Editor Charles Ward Assistant Managing Editor Ricky Ly Night Editor Will Holland Opinion Editor Michelle Gray, Merrill Jones Photo Editors
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Think about the children in the Middle East who are educated in Taliban recruitment schools. I know I’m not saying anything you didn’t know before. You know all about why America is great, and you have likely known since elementary school. But do you ever think about it anymore? Every once in a while, it’s nice to be reminded. My brother’s graduation was that reminder to me, and I hope that, however less inspirational it may be, this column will encourage you to give America the gratitude it deserves. So when you hear the National Anthem at the next OU football game, if nothing else, think about how lucky you are just to be watching football. And if you end the song with “Sooners,” consider the importance of the first 80 words in giving you the freedom to say whatever you want in the last. Appreciate, and then celebrate. TJ Moen is an industrial engineering junior.
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