Today is my 22nd birthday, and most people reading this don’t care all that much. Whether because someone more important is also celebrating their birthday today (such as Justin Timberlake or actress Minnie Driver), or because in the great Saint Louis University scheme of things I’m relatively unknown, there’s still much more in these 24 hours that comprise Jan. 31, 2010, that merit celebration over the birth of Justin, Minnie and myself.
With birth comes baby steps, and I start by celebrating the baby steps that have happened right here on campus: the Wellness Fee and the Flats at 374.
As quoted in the previous issue of The University News, First Year Senator Chris Ackels made an excellent point about the priorities of the University in terms of student health and wellness. If these programs weren’t funded adequately in the first place, what does that say as to how much SLU cares about them?
Despite the skepticism of SLU’s prioritization, not supporting this fee would have proven much more disastrous. The result would have been cutbacks to these very necessary programs. Though in these tough economic times no one likes the idea of paying more money, this money is needed to keep Simon Recreation Center and the Student Health and Counseling Center operating.
In the long term, it is much better to have a solution and a plan to keep what’s currently in place and to improve upon rather than to cut or to eliminate altogether. Though it’s easy for me to say that I approve of this fee because I’m graduating in May and won’t have to pay, the money does go to a cause.
As for the Flats at 374, I don’t see these additional 290 beds as a long-term solution to the housing situation at SLU. First of all, the Flats are reserved for juniors and seniors, when in the past few years most of those stuck on the waiting list for housing have been upcoming sophomores. These students cannot take advantage of this new housing. Second, the inability to apply the housing scholarship, I think, is going to be a big turnoff for students.
I understand that since SLU doesn’t own the building, the scholarship cannot apply, but this inability rubs salt on the wound that tuition is increasing and that SLU is getting harder to afford with each tuition increase. Nonetheless, the Flats are better than nothing at all and do buy time for SLU to come up with a long-term solution.
Since I’ve stepped into a loop of looking into the future, I do celebrate the upcoming release of OneWorld, the social justice magazine on campus. After funding troubles last semester, delaying the release of the fall issue, the magazine finally released its newest issue on Feb. 15. And because of this delay, the magazine will have two releases this semester: the February release and an April 22 Earth Day release. I wish I could say more about the contents, but like a birthday surprise, I don’t want to spoil the fun.
Nor do I wish to spoil the rest of my birthday going on and on about various wonderful things in this world. That’s what homework and the prospect of Mondays are for.
Allison Reilly is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences.
