R.L.C.s: What Have You Done For Us Lately?

Since becoming students at Saint Anselm College over three years ago, we have seen the Office of Residential Life and Education attempt to find new ways of engaging students. One program that they have instituted this year is the beginning of Residential Learning Communities. What that means is that three apartments in Father Bernard Court have been taken over so that twelve people (less than ¬ of 1% of the student population) can further a common interest by living together. In return for not having to participate in that God-awful Housing Lottery, these "RLCs" are supposed to provide significant programming and opportunities for the larger campus community. The idea of putting students in an apartment in order to foster a worthy interest and then to promote it to the student body is an admirable endeavor. In our experience, it only looks good on paper. Thus, we would like to pose a question to "Think BIG Think Green," "The Art House," and "The Un-Armed Allies"; what have you done for us lately?

A couple of years ago, the college began a Greening Initiative. We applaud this effort and want to do our part to help; in fact, we have. As members of the Knights of Columbus, we established the first effective recycling program on campus. Every Saturday, we borrow one of the physical plant trucks, collect recyclables from students in the Uppers, and then from the Goffstown Women's Prison, finally bringing all of it to the Goffstown Transfer Station. Last year we recycled over 2,000 pounds of material receiving no assistance from any of the college's three greening programs.

Since the beginning of the semester, we have not seen anyone from Think Big Think Green, the Green Team and "Greening the College" at our weekly pick-ups. Frankly, this is an embarrassment. After Think Big Think Green sent a school wide email, simply with directions to the transfer station, the Knights decided to take it to the next level by offering to pick up the recyclables. Think Big Think Green is in its second year of existence and their actions have been non-existent. Where do the funds from the $3 Christmas cards go? If the money that is raised is used to provide recycling bins for each apartment, your mission would be realized. Where are the weekly greening tips we were promised? Guess they stopped after we were told to pick, not buy, flowers for Valentine's Day only to realize that there was three feet of snow on the ground. What have you done for us lately? Where is the accountability?

As for The Art House and The Un-Armed Allies, we're not even sure of your purpose. Un-Armed Allies, we just figured out what your name was three days ago, let alone what you do. Art House, kudos on the Art Competition you are holding, that's what you're supposed to do. We would like to see more of both of your houses promoting events on campus and further integrating yourselves. However, we believe that your programs are draining funds from the college (a.k.a our tuition dollars) for not much return on our investment.

This is by no means meant to be a personal attack on the twelve people who want to further the missions of their houses. Again, the RLC programs sound good on paper; they simply need to be explored further. We hope that this article will help you realize that you not only have a programming, but a public relations problem as well. You could be doing many quality things; we just don't know that they are happening. So please RLCs, we think you could do something great, so be like Nike, and just do it! In the meantime, we will continue to ask, what have you done for us lately?