“Why should I care?” It is a very valid question and one that resonates throughout our campus. Whether the context is the HIV epidemic, the state of American public schools or the gross financial inequality in our country, our campus has come up with increasingly eloquent ways to ask this question.

Diversity seems to be the topic that really affected me more than most during my time here at the University. Many people have come up to me recently and asked me where my passion for diversity comes from.

I’ve enjoyed the last week or so on campus, not because of the beautiful weather, certainly not because of the crippling workload that comes with the end of the semester, and not even really because the summer is rapidly approaching. I’ve been thrilled with the excitement on campus surrounding some real controversy.

The recent instance of racism directed at six seniors during the class trip to Chicago last weekend is a stunning reminder of the racism that still exists in our world. Two hundred members of the senior class experienced racism firsthand, when six black students were denied entry to Mother’s Nightclub Original bar due to their “baggy jeans,” even as several white students with baggier jeans were allowed in.

The past few years, Student Union elections have not been competitive because too few students have run to make the elections challenging. Competitive elections force debate about how student government can improve Washington University and create a different type of accountability.

How can an idea so progressive, so sophisticated as that of radicalism be associated with our sweet, innocent youth? Easily.

Despite the media circus that circulated campus last Thursday, asking for student opinions and forecasting the probable course of the debate, the degree of student activism was surprisingly low.

The day of the debate was the most exciting day I’ve had at Wash. U., and it looked like many students agreed with me. I heard friends throughout the day say, “I wish it was debate day every day!” and “This is even better than W.I.L.D.!”

Last Thursday, Washington University hosted yet another important national political debate, its fourth in the last five election cycles.

In the wake of last Thursday’s vice presidential debate, politically-oriented student groups have reported a positive response to debate-day political activities and a desire to harness the political energy on campus for the future.