page 6
23, 2010
Awareness
The weapon of choice in the fight for justice
Our world is a big place. Ev-
ery day I am reminded of that.
I’m reminded that there are a
million problems with a million
people shouting about it but with
only one answer. Every day I
hear the facts: this many people
die of this disease and this many
people go hungry in this country.
Every day I look at my two
hands and am ashamed at how
By Jamie Santoro little I do. I am sitting pretty at a
Perspectives Editor fantastic private college spending
money I don’t have. I could take
these loans and fly to Haiti with a planeload of medical
supplies. I could cure diseases that, in America, require a
simple cocktail of antibiotics. I could really change things.
Maybe it’s just me but I always feel like I need to do
more. Cabrini’s “Justice Matters” program has been a
blessing and a curse for me. I felt like there was a whole
world I had no idea about until I came here, yet it left a hole
in me. It’s like I took a class in “you feel heartless, don’t
you? 101.”
In the last few months, I learned a difficult lesson. We
were reading a book in my ECG class (Faces of Justice)
about a woman who left her life in suburbia to go on a mis-
sion in Haiti. She had no medical or political background,
just a full heart.
At first the book infuriated me. I was annoyed with this
woman. She went to Haiti and watched it burn. She was
selfish and was trying to better know herself. I thought of
all the stories I’ve heard about Haiti, both before and after
the earthquake; children living under tarps, diseases that
are a mere bother to an American are a death sentence in
the steamy mountains of Haiti.
She was sitting there wallowing in her own indecisive-
ness as millions suffered. I was waiting to be bombarded
with information. I wanted the numbers: who was hungry?
Why? What was the agriculture like? How stable is the
government? Who is in charge? I never really got to answer
those questions because my epiphany came first.
All of the sudden I realized that this woman had done
the most important thing for the people of Haiti. She got
my attention. Granted, I already had knowledge of the area
but it was just that: knowledge. There was no emotional
connection. All I saw was a people suffering. I didn’t know
these people. The greatest weapon in the fight against in-
justice is awareness.
The perfect way to make a big change in the world is to
get people talking. Dedicated people at the heart of an issue
or conflict get the word out initially. Intellectuals who have
a handle on the world’s events pick up on this and go to
the closest media outlet, whether it’s The New York Times
or their Twitter account. Young professionals and college
students pick up on it and teach themselves the issues. Then
we have the most important job. We have to get everyone
else’s attention, whether we’re just talking to our families
at the dinner table or we’re organizing rallies and hosting
speakers.
This campus has so many opportunities to change the
world. Just by deciding to attend you opened up your po-
tential. Through groups like the Catholic Relief Services
What is
The Business?
Find out Tuesdays at 7 p.m. only at wybf.com
theloquitur.com
Perspectives
mct
Women in Southern Sudan vote in the nations first
multi-party election in 22 years. These women will
also help decide whether the south will succede in an-
other vote this January.
Ambassadors program and ECG classes, changing the
world is in your grasp.
So now I am taking this opportunity to change the
world. In about 100 days, the African nation of Sudan may
be no more. The south is voting to secede and become its
own nation. If it breaks away from the north, the north los-
es control of the oil deposits across the Southern Sudan.
The relationship between the north and south is not good
and not just because of the oil. The north is mostly Mus-
lim Arabs and the capital city is located there. They have
the power. The south is home to poorer Africans, mostly
Christians and animists. They have no voice and are taken
advantage of. Their secession could cause the largest con-
flict in Africa’s history.
That paragraph may enlighten one person. Armed with
knowledge, that one person has the potential to do any-
thing. You may call it the butterfly effect or advocacy. To
me it’s the only way we can make this world better. We can
change the world. It might not feel like it or it might not
feel like we can do much but if we keep our minds and our
hearts open, we can conquer anything.
ajs343@cabrini.edu
Thursday, Sept.
Big brother
getting too big
Since when is a
cop sneaking onto
your driveway in
the middle of the
night not consid-
ered a violation of
your privacy, even
when they suspect
you of doing some-
thing illegal?
Well, in Virgin-
ia, California, Or-
egon and six other
By Olivia Torrence western states, they
Staff Writer don’t believe that there
is such a thing as a vio-
lation of your privacy.
In these states it is legal that, with resonable
doubt, police can place a GPS unit on a sus-
pects vehicle.
The cops in these states have been secretly
placing GPS devices on the cars of people
who they think or know are big-time drug
dealers and registered sex offenders. Because
of this, more people are going to jail who actu-
ally need to be there.
In my opinion, if what these cops are doing
is going to make the world a better place, then
so be it. But many people believe otherwise
and are against this whole idea. The majority
of people think that the world is going to turn
into exactly what George Orwell predicted in
“1984”: a totalitarian state.
Isn’t it a violation of privacy when some-
one sells drugs on the corner of the street
where your children play? We obviously don’t
even want to get started on sex offenders. I
think people need to look at the big picture
here.
All anyone wants is “world peace.” Well,
we’re never going to reach this goal if every-
one’s out running around doing as they please.
That’s why these cops are trying to make the
world a better place, not only for themselves
but for everyone.
The main argument is that the car being
in your driveway is not considered being
on private property. Leaving your car in the
driveway is basically asking the cops to tam-
per with it. If you don’t want your car to be
messed with, keep it in the garage.
The funny thing about this issue is that
these GPS devices have only been placed
in the cars of people who have taken part in
crimes before or when they are investigating
a possible crime, not private citizens who are
just trying to go about their daily lives. So yet
again, what’s the problem?
The problem is the word “warrant.” The
police need this to do everything in their field
of work: to bust down someone’s door, to ar-
rest them, to go through their personal belong-
ings. They should need a warrant to secretly
place a GPS on people’s cars.
I guess we’ll see what happens when this
case reaches the Supreme Court. What will
the Supreme Court decide? Put more crimi-
nals behind bars that belong there or let them
run wild because random people in this world
feel violated?
I don’t know about anyone else but after
hearing both sides of the debate, I don’t think
I mind the police trying to do their job to make
this world safer. If this person wants to be a
criminal then they are putting themselves at
risk anyway. Why should anyone else care?
I like the quote from Russ Belville from
CNN that said, “Your car on private property
isn’t private. War is peace. Freedom is slavery.
Orwell was right.”
oat722@cabrini.edu
Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010 theloquitur.com page 7

Perspectives
Roommate issues shape college experience
Imagine hav- give them their
ing a roommate space. Some-
who bothers times people
you and does just need to be
not know where left alone when
to draw the line. they’re going
Sometimes through a rough
your roommate time.
may play loud Ask and you
music or invite shall receive,
a large amount sometimes.
of friends over Have respect
without prior for your room-
By Brandon Kroeckel permission. We mate’s property.
Staff Writer all know some- Do you want to
one that has play with their
some sort of iPad? What
roommate problem. The question is how about storing
do we handle such a common issue? something in
A great way to start off the year is to their refrigera-
draft your own version of a roommate tor? Ask your
agreement prior to moving in. Include what roommate for
you and your roommate agree to, such as permission first.
cleanliness, respect for your roommate’s If you use their
property and what to do while they’re do- items without
ing homework. Also, create a code of con- prior consent,
duct for visitors and how you will respect bad things may
quiet hours. happen.
When drafting a roommate agreement, Think before mct
make sure to be as specific as possible. A you speak. You
lot of roommate arguments are too broad. may be really Most college students have never shared a room before. That sudden change can lead to friction, to say
For example, when discussing visitation, good friends the least. internet. Your roommate may not appreci- standard, refer them to the handbook and
make sure you create a code of conduct with your roommate but watch what you ate the fact that you may feel left out or talk to them about how the issue can be
and explain when visitors can and cannot say because you may not know everything offended without even confronting them in prevented in the future.
visit and so on. about them. Some arguments may stem the first place. If all fails, talk to residence life to see
Communication is key when getting from comments that were not intended Having a class together with your room- how they can assist you. The profession-
along with your roommate. Keep your to be hostile. You may have a couple of mate may help improve your relationship ally trained staff will work with you and
ground. If you have an issue with your brothers and sisters while your roommate with them. If you are unsure of an assign- help assist you with any issues you may
roommate, speak up, but nicely of course. is an only child or maybe your parents are ment that is due or need assistance for a have in the residence halls.
Some conflicts may arise when roommates divorced while your roommate’s are still project, maybe your roommate can give Laying the law down with your room-
are too lenient or too “in your face” about together. You probably do not know the you a hand. Working together as a team can mate may be difficult but hopefully some
situations that could occur. complete background of your roommate strengthen relationships. of these tips will help if any issues were to
Respect your roommate’s space. Every- outside the dorm. When in doubt, refer to the Cabrini Col- arise. Hopefully there won’t be.
one needs his or her space. If your room- Along with the “think before you lege Community Standards Handbook. If
mate asks you to give them their space, speak” theme, watch what you post on the you feel that your roommate is violating a bjk66@cabrini.edu

Is Paris Hilton famous for getting arrested?

By Elizabeth Scopelliti
Copy Editor

What’s white, powder-like

and small enough to fit in a
baggy? According to Paris
Hilton, a stick of gum.
It was just another night in
Paris (pardon my pun) when
Ms. Hotel Heiress herself was
pulled over by the police out-
side of a Las Vegas hotel. Her nightclub-mogul boyfriend
Cy Waits failed a sobriety test that had been given by a
motorcycle officer, who requested he take the test after re-
portedly smelling traces of marijuana smoke.
While Paris waited ever-so-patiently for her boyfriend
to finish his test so they could ride into the sunset, she went
into her Chanel bag to reach for her lip balm. But uh-oh…
the tiny bag containing her “gum” fell out right in front of
the police lieutenant!
This little princess claimed that the Chanel bag was
not hers… ha ha ha. Oh, I suppose your boyfriend wasn’t
drunk either.
This isn’t the first time the “Simple Life” star has been
arrested. Actually, this isn’t even the first time this sum- mct
mer. Bravo, Paris. That’s pretty impressive. Americans across the country are following the Heiress’ bad track record and poking fun at her recent arrest.
Back in July, she was arrested for supposedly smoking
pot in South Africa during the World Cup. It was defi- sentence. But not to worry Paris enthusiasts, she will not mous for being famous, ever get her act together? I guess
nitely one of her finer moments. What celebutant wouldn’t actually have to report to jail as long as she complies with only time will tell. Word to the wise: don’t hold your
smoke weed at the biggest soccer game in the world? Ob- her plea agreement. This includes a $2,000 fine, 200 hours breath.
viously only the dumb ones. of community service and the completion of an outpatient
Anyway, news broke that Ms. Hilton was charged for drug program. ems83@cabrini.edu
possession of cocaine and will have to serve a one-year jail So will this soon to be 30-year-old celebrity, solely fa-