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December is a time of celebration, which causes normally sane individuals to succumb to “Hallmark fever.” The symptoms of this fever include hypersentimentality, an unexplained increase in love for fellow human beings and a tendency to speak only in the language of Hallmark cards.
At one time or another, observers of the holiday all have recognized the over-commercialization of the once religious holiday, become infuriated and then bored with the concept. The observers resigned that the holiday is a standard of our society and ceded.
These are the obvious signs of the holiday season, but we should not overlook the other noted quality of December that college students are especially vulnerable to. December is the month when we begin to write our “spring semester manifestos,” plum full of optimism and temporary motivation.
Item number one, inevitably, is to study more. Do reading assignments before class, always turn in papers on time and kick the class-skipping habit. Item number two is to whittle down the waist. Stop eating Ben and Jerry’s Wavy Gravy, buy a pass to the gym and vow to use it — thus, losing the 20 pounds that have made your gut their new comfortable, jiggly home.
At this point, most people have started laughing at themselves, picked their pint of Ben and Jerry’s out of the trash, and cheered because it hasn’t melted in the 10 minutes during which they were having their motivated moment. But I must urge you to go on, because item number three, the one no one ever gets to, is the most important one of all.
Even if you remain a slacker and gain another 20 pounds, you must remember item three. Repeat after me: I will send Matthew Rodrigue and Matthew Gagnon, our new Student Government president and vice president, a letter to tell them how much faith I have in them.
Now, I won’t be so ballsy as to suggest that showing these two men, who have just taken on two of the most challenging student positions at this university, support is the meaning of life. Yet, we must remember that these two men now are responsible for fulfilling tremendous expectations. Students who gave their support to the two may have heard that the duo plans to tackle such critical issues as campus parking, student resources and costs at the Bookstore.
In a season of potential selfishness and greed, we must remember that Rodrigue and Gagnon are students, too, and that they have taken on the commitment of Student Government, and all of the expectations and pressure that come with it, in addition to regular classes and responsibilities. But how can we expect them, as normal, overworked students, to set about the task of improving Student Government without the motivation of the support of their fellow students?
Biting off more than you can chew is a frequent habit of some students at the University of Maine. If we want to have a few less things to worry about, we should give a little love to the ones putting in the hours to make it happen. Then, maybe, all our random acts of holiday kindness will have a source. Whether or not we notice them or not, we should acknowledge that our student leaders make honorable efforts to make student life better.
Tracy Collins is a sophomore journalism major.
