Power Outages, Oh My!

9/15/2008 – 4:57 PM – Message from the Provost – All classes being held.

No offense to Dr. Saliba, but at this point, I have already attended multiple classes today, and have returned at this point to my house which has not had power for over 24 hours. I have been impressed with a great deal of the Universities efforts in the past few days regarding the truly incredible weather events.

On the up’s, all of my roommates, and my friends are currently safe. Also I would like to thank all of the many Residential Services workers, Public Safety officials etc. who have all been working many extra hours. The work they all do is truly incredible, and all of campus should be thankful for their repeated returns to shut off alarm systems/check pilot lights/clean up of tree limbs and many more.

On the down’s, this email from the Provosts Office, as well as the many Campus Safety emails which I just received telling me to sleep in the RecPlex, that my power was out etc. Also let’s not forget all of the food which my roommates and I have had to throw out already only 28 hours since our power went out.

All in all, UD has survived this pretty well. Let us be thankful for what we have.

Let us never forget their memories, dreams and ambitions.








God bless us all, and may we all find peace.

War is ugly.

Plain and simple. Todays news is topped by U.S. Army reports that suicide rates for Army personnel are about to surpass the national rate of 19.6 per 100,000. This would be the highest these rates have been since the Vietnam conflict. Sad news for the many troops who are still in Iraq and Afghanistan, and as of current have no idea of when they will be coming home. The Army acknowledged that they had expected this increase in numbers due to the increased numbers of personnel who have served repeated times. All of these troops should remember that their are many Americans who are grateful for their service, and cannot imagine what life must be like. Don't give up on it, all life is precious. The fundamental problem about war, no matter where or what for, this simple statement is forgotten. The basic right to life is taken away by those leading the war's and told to follow the flag. Can we not give peace a chance, before more have to die?

And die for what? These troops may not have much to look forward too, when hoping for their place to be remembered back home. Today, Frank Buckles, at age 107 toured the National Mall, trying to raise awareness and find funding for the renovation and rebuilding of Washington D.C.'s World War I monument. Currently no national monument exists. This is appalling, for the thousands of men who gave their lives defending our country.

Do I believe in my country? Yes
Do I believe in supporting our troops? Yes
Am I a Patriot? No, not as it is defined anymore. To much warmongering has begun to get tucked into this term. We have no right to forcefully instill our views on others, as they should not instill theirs on us. Being patriotic and a Patriot have taken on different meanings. The first believes in the fundamental good of their country's government, and believes in the society which it serves. a Patriot seemingly means someone who believes that their government is a protector, to the point of preemptive defense.

What is this preemptive defense I talk about? Look into the Bush Doctrine of war and you will soon understand.

May Peace be with you all

May we never forget those lives lost.

In an unpublished editorial for the FlyerNews, the student newspaper at the University of Dayton. This is in response to a recent shooting incident on campus that occured in the student neighborhood, known as the Ghetto. Read more about this incident here.

When people think of college, they tend to have bubbly visions of stately brick buildings, well manicured lawns, students in the library and of course mobs of people gathered around cases of certain canned beverages. Perhaps it’s because of our age and the feeling of invulnerability, or maybe it’s from the general upbringing of a majority of this campus in well off, suburban families, but a “cult of UD” certainly exists. And for those who believe in it, campus should be a place of perpetual safety, where nothing can go wrong. Is it possible that a reality exists outside of games of beer pong, video games and air conditioning (well at least for some)?

Recent violence in both student neighborhoods has served as an unfortunate reminder to some that we do indeed, live in a city (of which our institution borrows its name not vice versa like some might believe). Unfortunately in cities violence occurs, it’s not necessarily anyone’s fault, but it is a reality. We should not be sitting trembling in our houses, or preparing to run for the hills. Instead we must remember the basics of city living, such as never walking alone, and always locking our doors. Students must realize we are not being preyed upon, rather, we live in a diverse community, that happens to reside in an even more diverse community.

The “cult of UD” stands between students and an education in the daily lives of urban dwellers. This is not to say that all urbanites hold people at gunpoint regularly, instead is meant as a check of our own reality. We should strive to serve and better understand our community, rather than be afraid of what we don’t understand.