Category: Opinion

By Jen Lassen

Contributing Writer

This past weekend, I witnessed something spectacular: I saw the most amount of orange and blue I’d ever seen in my entire life. And not just the colors, but numerous people of all ages displaying pride for the University.

The sense of school spirit I felt from homecoming weekend overwhelmed me in a good way. People of all ages came to campus this past weekend for the homecoming festivities, and as a first-year with a relatively new connection to the University, I couldn’t have been happier to see a mix of alumni, family members, and younger children showing support.

On Saturday morning, I was somewhat surprised yet totally impressed to see the great number of people who attended the football game. The stands were filled with tons of people connected to the University, and their pride began to rub off on me. Looking out into the crowd, a sea of orange and blue filled my eyes and showed me how exciting it is to be at a place like this. I then started to realize how special of a place the University is for so many people.

Seeing the hundreds of alumni on campus this past weekend made me realize something. I realized how significant of a role four years at the University has played in the lives of so many different types of people: not just for their career, but for their personal qualities and friendships. I witnessed alumni tailgating with their sorority sisters, newlyweds taking their children (who were dressed in kid’s Bison gear, might I add) to play in the inflatables near the football field, and recent graduates catching up with their friends. It was just so great to see how the University still means so much to so many; the faces of older alumni were all so cheerful, signaling their happiness and excitement for being back at the place they called home for four years. Aside from the immense amount of school spirit displayed, this element of homecoming weekend in itself made me the most proud to call myself a University student.

For this reason, I feel that homecoming weekend is something all students should attend. I saw sheer pride for the University displayed amongst the young and the old, making me feel it, too. I think that each student owes it to himself to take a few hours next homecoming weekend to see this immense display of pride, spirit and love for the orange and blue that has extended over generations for the sole purpose of appreciating what a wonderful and special institution we all attend. The next time students find fault with the “Bucknell bubble,” remember how each homecoming weekend brings back thousands of people who love the University and everything it stands for, and how we should take notice of this love and embrace it ourselves.

By: Jennifer Lassen

Writer

So far, my time at the University has been nothing but a whirlwind, a good whirlwind nonetheless. Building On Foundations (BOF) and New Student Orientation were enjoyable, exciting, new and sleep-deprived blurs; the start of classes arrived within the blink of an eye; and before I knew it, I went home and finally was able to relax over Fall Break. Although we are two months into the school year and I’m still standing, there have been a number of changes, struggles, stressors and things I’ve had to get used to here, and it certainly hasn’t been a walk in the park.

For one, dealing with much more free time than in high school has been something I’ve considered challenging, yet rewarding at the same time. The first few weeks of classes I struggled to find ways to make good use of my free time, spending way too much time in my dorm room and not enough exploring the options of what else I could be doing on campus. When I decided to join clubs and organizations, that free time quickly got eaten up and my struggle became managing a schedule where I could be involved in activities and still have time for my studies and myself. This struggle, coupled by stress and a major lack of sleep for about a week or so, took some time to get used to and definitely was not easy. Now, I feel balanced and structured, and have fully adjusted to the busy life of a typical University student.

Although I’ve seemed to find my niche in our little “Bucknell bubble,” another continual struggle I’ve seemed to find is what the heck I’m supposed to eat each day in the Bostwick Marketplace. It was easy at first, since there were so many options to try, but now that I am finding out more about the food itself and the number of calories I’m actually eating with each meal, the only thing on my mind is how to avoid the “freshman 15.” It’s not that there are a lack of healthy options in the Bostwick Marketplace or that I am going hungry each day (that’s absolutely not possible with an unlimited meal plan). The trouble is maintaining a healthy diet while trying to avoid the fattening, better-tasting foods, while treating myself every once in a while. It is just different now since I’d eat the same thing for breakfast each day at home, pack myself a lunch, and then come home after school and eat whatever food my mom cooked for our family. Now with the responsibility of choosing healthy and fulfilling meals myself, I struggle sometimes to find a happy balance. Luckily, I know that with more practice and more meals to come, I will be able to master the art of dining in the Bostwick Marketplace in no time.

One final change I’d like to address is the difficulty of living in a dormitory. Neighbors next to my bedroom, a lofted bed, having to do my own wash, finding enough time to sleep with others around, avoiding the custodians when they clean the bathrooms, and wearing flip flops in the shower have proven to be only minor struggles. Despite these changes, living with others so far has been a rewarding experience since having my hallmates as both a support system and friends to hang out with have been something I’ve really enjoyed over the past two months.

Hopefully after reading this article, many first-years can relate to some of the things that I’ve been through so far. Despite all of these challenges of adjusting to college life, I’m having the time of my life here and am meeting so many interesting people that I couldn’t imagine going to school anywhere else. I hope that other first-years are feeling the same way as me and will continue to find happiness here at the University, especially over the course of these beautiful fall months now that flood season is over!

By Jen Lassen

Contributing Writer

The recent Republican debate about mandating the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for young girls created a rift between politicians Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry. The issue has inevitably turned into something that the candidates can use against one another to gain followers. Bachmann’s personal attacks on Perry for his support of the vaccine are very public, and Perry has not kept his mouth shut about his desire for the mandate. The idea of arguing about something like this seems a bit out of place when there are many more important issues to examine.

Our world is dominated by debt, lack of jobs, a slumping economy and international pressures. Many solutions have been proposed to solve these seemingly never-ending problems, but they have not been executed. Since these problems are controlling our world, why not devote more discussion time to them?

I understand that the issue of cervical cancer and HPV among women is a very serious issue. Every woman should be safe, whether by choice or by mandate, in terms of the vaccine before she engages in sexual activity. What I do not understand is why Bachmann and Perry are using their differences over this one issue to determine who the better candidate is.

During the Tea Party GOP debate on Sept. 12, many issues were publicly discussed: the state of the economy and jobs, the national debt and social issues such as healthcare. It was intriguing to see the varying opinions of the candidates over these important topics. Bachmann and Perry had differing opinions about all of these issues, so I find it almost silly that they are using the HPV vaccine debate to differentiate themselves. There are so many more apparent and urgent concerns to address.

I find it odd that although the HPV vaccine issue targets such a small part of the population, Bachmann and Perry have blown it into such a large issue that it’s currently overshadowing our country’s dire issues. I’m finding it hard to understand why these candidates are using this issue to prove who the better Republican is when they should be speaking up about other problems in our country right now.

Even though it’s vital for young girls to know the dangers of HPV and the importance of being protected, I’m certain that they can make their own decisions with their families about receiving the vaccine. This way, the politicians can focus on speaking about the issues that are affecting millions of people nationally rather than using a smaller issue to one-up their opponents.

By Elizabeth Bacharach

Contributing Writer

Luckily, I am not hindered by many allergies, just a few simple intolerance. Nonetheless, as my first months progress at the University, I am disturbed by the lack of concern for those who have allergies at Bostwick Marketplace.

I am lactose intolerant, meaning I have to be cautious of my dairy intake and I must frequently take Lactaid pills. The reality is, I do not always have a Lactaid on me, but I still would like to be able to eat pleasantly and at my leisure. I am not always so lucky. I have found most of the food at Bostwick Marketplace is made with myriad dairy products: butter, cheese, cream, etc. Yes, a majority of students enjoy these dairy-enhanced edibles, but there is an extreme lack of care for those who cannot eat such ingredients. The Bostwick Marketplace disregards students who are lactose intolerant and blatantly assumes they can eat the dairy-laden food.  Thus, with my stomach growling, I have no choice but to disregard my food barriers and eat what they have to offer. In instances like these, I try to choose the food that incorporates the least amount of dairy.

Another intolerance that is skimmed over by the Bostwick Marketplace is celiac disease, the inability to consume products made with wheat. Glancing over the options, I am stunned by the lack of choices available to these students. Does Bostwick Marketplace really expect these students to eat fruit, salad and eggs three times a day, seven days a week? The inability to eat wheat is hard enough and with such a small selection of choices, eating at the Bostwick Marketplace is that much harder.

My little sister, the allergist’s dream, is allergic to all nuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, legumes, codfish, pears, nectarines, plums, apples and avocados.  I was frightened to take her into the Bostwick Marketplace over Family Weekend in fear that she might collapse in anaphylactic shock. I understand my sister is just one person and not even a student at the University, but you would not believe how common all of her allergies are. According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology, more than three million people in the United States report being allergic to peanuts, tree nuts or both.

Now, it is quite obvious that my sister, who is fatally allergic to all nuts, is like many students on campus. Students with allergies, especially to nuts, face dangers at the Bostwick Marketplace, especially at the bread and condiments bar. Any ignorant student, faculty member or employee can easily use the peanut butter knife to spread their bagel and then use the jelly knife to spread right on top of the peanut butter. Those with peanut allergies, therefore, cannot dare make a jelly sandwich or a bagel with cream cheese.

Something needs to be done about the lack of care for those with allergies at the Bostwick Marketplace. It does not have to be groundbreaking or revolutionary. Something as simple as a peanut-only area or a gluten-free table can change the culinary world of those with allergies and intolerances at the University. It is truly unfair for people, like your neighbor, your friend and me, to fight to find something they can eat at every meal. So the question is: for such a forward school, why is our cafeteria so behind?