Assumtion College - Heights Yearbook (Worcester, MA)

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DEDICATION THE 1975 HEIGHTS IS DEDICATED TO SPIRIT — THE ZEST AND ENTHUSIASM OF BEING, LEARNING AND SHARING IN A COMMUNITY WHERE, THE PEOPLE CARE TO BECOME INVOLVED.

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FOREWARD “SPIRIT IN YOUR COLLEGE YEARS” The Assumption community embodies several varieties of this from time to time. Partying-spirit, team spirit, class spirit and drinking “spirits” are im¬ portant for many. The religious variety is usually saved for the Chapel. And although students enjoy what they learn, studies are considered work rather than something deserving much spirited involve¬ ment. There is however, a certain kind of general fellowship, but it is not always enjoyed. Assumption is hardly a lonely place, for nearly everyone knows everyone else and many a close friendship is made within the halls of our dorms. Some only have a few friends though, and these people are often put down in a way that can hurt them deeply. The social life here, fails to produce enough of the kind of community spirit that makes people feel that getting involved is worthwhile. The Campus Center makes for lots of good times, but for some it is a sore topic. Small talk, not getting to dance, stares, fears and suspicions all contribute to friction between males and females. Others look to the advent of the townhouses this year or even the arrival of women on campus, six years ago, to explain the lack of commu¬ nity spirit. For those who see college as a place to become politically involved A.C. offers even less. Apathy is not a surprising phenomenon, when even those who do try often get frustrated by the lack of support. Apathy and lack of spirit are by no means peculiar to Assumption; the challenges of modern life are complex, there is much to make all of us anxious and fearful. The rush of events and technological progress changes our lifestyle so quickly that the present, and the future as well, becomes much less manageable. We need to support one another more now than ever before. Yet we don’t, instead we defend ourselves from anxiety by learning not to become involved. Our self-images are fragile and can easily be dam¬ aged by what others think and by what we might lose, so we don’t risk involvement. Our self esteem is fragile because parents, teachers and bosses value us in terms of our ability to produce, conform or obey more than they value us just for being ourselves. Those who get good grades, look nice or shoot lots of baskets are praised and made to feel important. Those who don’t get good grades or sit still or look nice when they are little won’t have much chance to do well later because they are made to feel unimpor¬ tant. This same kind of labeling and comparison lies at the roots of racism, sexism and poverty. It’s a vio¬ lent kind of thinking that says that one person is somehow better or brighter than another. It kills some of the spirit of learning inside all of us. Our psychology, history and education courses have helped us to become aware of a lot of these facts, yet college doesn’t prepare us to be able to do much about it. Why? Why do we still feel lonely or cut each other down or break windows etc. out of frus¬ tration? Obviously, the type of self esteem we have doesn’t offer enough meaning or make one feel strong enough to dare to care all of the time. You see, the positive labels don’t help us to discover who we are or what we want either. They just push us to achieve the kind of success that is expected of us. College offers a special opportunity to test out new experiences and to examine for oneself what life and success mean. Take advantage of your college years by putting energy and spirit into what you do. If you don’t like the way that an organization or group is being run it means that it needs more of your atten¬ tion, not less. Avoiding those things which one doesn’t like won’t help to increase his spunk or energy one bit. The administration can’t refuse to listen to student views on issues like the establish¬ ment of restricted floors or the firing of good professors if they make enough noise. Take a tip from those who do get involved, “you learn more by doing than by complaining.” Even if you don’t get involved in Assumption, please take full advantage of your college years to learn about yourself. Rebuild your self esteem by ex¬ amining what’s inside of you honestly. Sift through your experiences and decide what is really worth valuing. Work passionately to develop the power to look closely and realistically at life. Challenge all the old preconceptions, including your own, and get to the core of the matter. Get to know yourself well enough to feel good about you for your own reasons and not because you meet up to someone else’s ex¬ pectations. Only then can your values become some¬ thing which means enough to you to be worth all of your spirit and energy. D.M.L. 6