Ugly graffiti must be erased

By Jeff Trull

Over the past few months I have noticed a new trend in advertising on-campus events: graffiti. If you don’t know what I’m referring to, I’m talking about the chalk writing on concrete walls, benches and other surfaces. While I’m sure those who put the chalk there think that it’s harmless, I am annoyed by its unattractiveness.

For those that don’t think this qualifies as graffiti, I beg to differ. The dictionary defines graffiti as “unauthorized writing or drawing on a public surface.” I am not certain as to school rules regarding drawing with chalk on buildings at UMass Dartmouth, but I doubt that it is allowed. If it is allowed, it shouldn’t be. You certainly could not walk around New Bedford and write on whatever building or fixture you choose. Using spray paint to tag buildings is considered vandalism, which is a crime.

In the 1980s New York City Mayor Ed Koch took on graffiti in his city. His plan aimed to eliminate graffiti from the sides of trains. This plan proved successful not only in eliminating graffiti, but also helping decrease other crime in the city.

While graffiti can be artitstic and beautiful in certain places, these chalk scribbles certainly do not fall under this category.

I am not against student groups promoting events as best they can, but I think there are appropriate ways of doing so. There are more ways than ever to advertise, such as Facebook, e-mail or the Torch. Of course there are plenty of bulletin boards across campus. I know they are often crowded with papers, but that is just the way it is. These areas are reserved specifically for this nature. But buildings and benches are not intended for this purpose.

If this chalk writing is allowed to go on, where will the line be drawn? Clearly we cannot have writing over all the walls and other concrete surfaces on campus. That would look absolutely ridiculous. Who should and shouldn’t be allowed to advertise this way?

Outside businesses often advertise on campus with fliers, posters or other handouts. I know in the past I’ve seen “JetBlue” chalked on Group I. If all these advertisers suddenly start writing in chalk, I have no doubt it would get out of control.

At most, chalk should only be allowed in designated areas and if groups agree to clean it up once the event advertised has passed. It is especially unnecessary to have to look at these drawings weeks or months after the event has gone by. However, I think that the chalk should only be allowed on walkways. I know 99% of the campus consists of that unflattering concrete, but these are still the only buildings that we have.

While the chalk has not gotten to a level where it is out of control, I do not want to see it go that far. These drawings are not helping the aesthetics of our campus. Let’s not forget that as kids we played with “sidewalk chalk” and not “concrete wall chalk.”

Give wind power a fighting chance

By Ben Comeau

Next time you walk to class, take a second to look at the trees that surround and dot our campus. If you look from the right angle, you will see a trend — all of the tallest trees flatten out on top, as if they have been bent at right angles by some giant hand. Well, that giant hand is salty air from the ocean and that wind could be powering the lights in your classrooms someday. That is, if we get off our butts and demand it.

For those who have not heard, South Coast Wind is a proposal (and only a proposal at this moment) to create one to three wind farms in Buzzards Bay. The locations are offshore of South Dartmouth, Fairhaven and Naushon Island.

If constructed, this project could provide a 300-megawatt power outlet for the state. Buzzards Bay offers an average of 18-20 mph winds consistently and a wide-open bay that could use some attention. But the opportunities don’t stop there — even the UMass campus is eligible for some windy energy.

There are murmurs of two turbines going up by the football field. If erected, these two turbines would satisfy all the campus’ current energy needs. That means the ancient boilers by the police station — most famous for the ugly looking smokestack — could be shut down.

I can’t stress enough the importance of wind power. It is the best renewable energy (80% efficient on average whereas solar is only 60%) by far and it is perfect because it does not require a huge track of land to build on. The foundation for each turbine is about the size of a car. Turbines could be built anywhere wind is found. Cheap power from strong winds. Who would be against that?

Governor Patrick said in his campaign he wanted Massachusetts to become the “Silicon Valley of renewable energy.” I think that is possible, but we need to push the government and those rich snobs on the Cape to accept wind proposals.

The South Coast could set an example by pushing for wind farms and if UMass could get its act together maybe it too, can be an example. It can’t be that hard to do. I mean — we have a renowned engineering school, do we not? You’re trying to tell me we can’t get five graduate students to draw up wind turbine blueprints? We need to act to get these turbines because, trust me, they are the best hope for this community.

The cost has deterred most citizens and legislators for years. It is crucial to understand that wind power is an investment. Wind farms won’t break even for years, maybe decades, but in the meantime the state could be foreign-oil-independent and everyone can enjoy substantially lower electricity rates (and with a recession in motion, lower costs for anything is a good idea).

The more turbines, the cheaper energy will be for the average consumer. Remember when the campus sent out the email about skyrocketing energy bills? Rather then letting those rusty boilers strain to keep up, let’s make some turbines and let the wind power our irresponsible energy needs.

Of course all South Coast energy plans are way off in the horizon. The purpose of this article is to get students aware of the benefits and hopefully sway some critics. What we need now is a concerned base of community members and students to push the state and federal government to put up funds to build turbines. I don’t care who you are, but oil over $100 a barrel is too much for tiny Massachusetts. Let’s give wind a fighting chance.

If you are interested in getting involved or want to know more you can visit: southcoastwind.org, cleanpowernow.org and capewind.org.

SOUL SIGHTINGS

A dog with no leash

“Why did he/she say that really mean thing… Nobody really cares about what happens to me, I’m just no good… The professor really doesn’t like me… What is the sense of trying, I never get it right anyway….”

If any of these thoughts and the many individual permutations sound familiar, you are not alone. Variations of all of them run around in our head a good deal of the time. They seem to always be there and at times even keep us awake at night.

We replay the last quarrel and plot all the ways we can win next time, what we will say and how we will say it and savor what we believe will be the outcome. The whole scene is played over and over in an unending loop.

It becomes like the awareness of the dentist appointment we dread, hovering in the back of our minds and popping up whenever there is a lull. It’s like a dog with no leash that runs around with no real purpose or discipline.

We wait in the checkout line and the thoughts are there. We wait at a red light and the thoughts are there. We walk between classes and the thoughts are there.

When the thoughts are negative or we just do not want to deal with them, we seek to block them out. How? Cell phones, iPods, loud music, you know, lots of subwoofers or some form of substance that alters consciousness, all of which are colossal “cop outs.”

If indeed these thoughts are like a dog with no leash, they produce the same chaos interiorly that the dog would exteriorly. The question is: how can we deal with them?

There is always, “If I turn my head and cannot see them, they do not exist,” which does not work. One way that will work is to develop an attitude of mindfulness in our daily lives. If you are a religious person this is also called a prayerful or contemplative attitude.

First, look at what is going on in your mind. Is it serious? Do you need help to resolve it? Second, if you need to forgive someone, even yourself, do so. Third, become aware of what you are doing. Most people are so preoccupied they walk through life totally unaware of what is around them. Fourth, begin to let go of what is running around in your head by acknowledging its presence and then focusing on a short prayer.

With repetition and the dreaded “d” word (discipline) the constant conversation will wither for lack of nourishment. A real interior peace will be present, the dog will be leashed and the tail will no longer be wagging the dog.

Sr. Madeleine Tacy, OP
Catholic Campus Ministry

UMD housing changes welcomed

By Jeff Trull

With renovation projects finishing up and new living options in place, UMass Dartmouth Housing seems to be getting back on track after the past years’ blunders. Cedar Dell West is poised to reopen with a new look after being closed for the past two years. Several themed housing areas have been announced across the campus, giving students a chance to live in places that better suit their needs. With plenty of housing now available, students can once again enjoy living on campus.

Cedar Dell West is set to welcome in students this coming September. After closing all of Cedar Dell for renovations, the Cedar Dell West will house several hundred students. This will bring an end to the housing crunch of the past few years. The dark days of bunked beds in the Woodlands have long since passed. Housing should now be able to accommodate everyone who wishes to live on campus without a problem.

Unlike last year, students currently living off campus who wish to move onto campus housing will be allowed to participate in housing selection. This will virtually guarantee these students a place to live in the dorms. In previous years, off-campus students had to wait until current residents had made their living choices to see what was left over (if anything).

The themed housing brings more options to students living in dorms. Quiet housing is definitely a good option for students who want to live in a peaceful environment. Dorms tend to get noisy at night, and it doesn’t necessarily matter what night of the week it is. Students who don’t enjoy or contribute to the noise and prefer to concentrate on their studies can live in these quiet areas.

“Substance awareness” housing areas have been implemented this year as well. Just as it sounds, students in these areas agree not to consume alcohol or use any illicit drugs. I’m sure there are some students who will also welcome this housing area, which will be located next to the quiet housing.

Finally, graduate housing has been designated for Cedar Dell West. While graduate students are not forced to live here, it does give them the opportunity to be separated from undergraduates and have their own experience. All of these ideas can do nothing but benefit the students. I am not certain as to the level of interest for living in these areas, but I’m confident at least some students will take up the offer.

One housing area that I am disappointed to see disappear is the 21-plus housing areas. Housing has decided to get rid of this option and instead have 21-plus housing on a suite-by-suite basis. Just as before, everyone in the suite will have to be 21 before alcohol is allowed in that room. But now the status can be granted in all Woodlands apartments and Cedar Dell instead of limiting it to certain housing areas.

The new idea simplifies the selection process and removes confusion about rules regarding these areas. However, I think the idea of 21-plus areas is alluring to some. Last year when I chose to live in Ivy, it was entirely 21-plus last year. I welcomed the idea that I would be living with mostly seniors. As a senior, I felt it was like growing up in a way. But I was disappointed to find out in September that Ivy was no longer considered a 21-plus hall and a majority of the students living on my floor were not of drinking age. Some fellow residents of mine expressed similar concerns.

I think Housing has undervalued this type of living area by eliminating it altogether. I think it would have been feasible to keep two buildings, such as Aspen and Ivy, as 21-plus while allowing the new rules to govern all other Woodlands buildings and Cedar Dell. Then some students could continue to live in areas consisting of primarily upperclassmen.

Aside from the new themes, the selection process also seems to be simplified this year. In previous years I’ve found it to be confusing and aggravating between waiting in lines, figuring out rules and trying to understand the process.

Housing selection will take place online for the second year after the process succeeded last year. The Housing office is offering a podcast tutorial as well as several dates to learn the online selection process in person.

As an added convenience, students will no longer have to sign housing contracts in person. This can now be done online instead, eliminating another inconvenience to students. The entire room selection schedule is well laid out on a calendar, which was distributed to all students. The calendar clearly identifies important dates for students who are selecting a room.

With all of the information related to housing selection for students this year, the whole process is set to go off without a hitch. It’s promising to see that Housing is making living in dorms as fun and stress-free as possible.