Letter to the Editor 3, 10/24/08

Dear Editor, ‘ ‘ ‘ This being my fifth fall semester at Pitt, I have seen my share of… Dear Editor, ‘ ‘ ‘ This being my fifth fall semester at Pitt, I have seen my share of homecoming court festivities. I’ve gotten used to the idea that I’ll have to lift 30 or so ‘Vote for Jane’ signs up to see when the next foreign film night is on the bulletin boards and that all chalkboards in the Cathedral will bear some slogan or another that my professors will promptly erase. That’s all mostly harmless fun that really gets people into the spirit of homecoming, but what I have seen this past year cannot be called ‘campaigning’ so much as littering and selfishness. ‘ ‘ ‘ Walking across Towers patio today was absolutely appalling. There was not a flat surface (including the ground) that did not have a flier taped to it. Besides the fact that more fliers just make them easier to tune out and therefore less effective, and besides the fact that most of that colored paper probably didn’t come from 100 percent post-consumer recycled materials, the candidates were clearly not thinking about how much it all cost or who was going to clean it all up. One of the major focuses that the Alumni Association and the Blue and Gold Society had for this year’s court was a greater emphasis on charity and philanthropy in general, and thus their required participation in Make a Difference Day and having each prospective monarch choose a favorite charity. This message might not have sunk in as well as was hoped. ‘ ‘ ‘ Pitt’s Maintenance and Facilities Management Department, which, on top of having to respond to its normal duties, will now have to roam campus peeling thousands of fliers off of the walls, the windows and the ground. Of course, if the candidates wanted to mobilize the same friends and acquaintances they had putting up the fliers and have them take them down as well, I imagine that it could all be cleaned up within a day. ‘ ‘ ‘ While I am sure that the candidates for homecoming were all very aware of the actual monetary cost of their campaigns, I have to wonder if they really understand how much that money is worth. Instead of helping to feed, clothe or otherwise assist people who really need help getting back on their feet and turning their lives around, these candidates chose to spend their money on prestige that will last a few months if they are lucky. Hail to Pitt, you’ve taught us a great lesson. Rebecca Miller School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences