When thinking about what to write this week, I was racking my brain for an idea. But, something was sticking in the back of my head, itching to get out. Collaboration.
As a student, staff member, professor, or administrator, you most likely have some sort of passion in your life. Whether it is personal or professional, it is something that drives you.
As a feminist, I firmly believe in collaborating until I can’t breathe anymore on a project that is going to enliven the participants and make them think about how to make the world a better place.
Feminism is all about collaboration.
Feminist issues are directed at all people. I know that might be a shock to most of you.
Yes, I said that you don’t just have to be a bra burning, crazy hippy to be a feminist (that is a myth, by the way).
To me, being a feminist is anyone that passionately believes in equality for all and the betterment of society.
See, I told you it had nothing to do with bra burning!
Here is where the “observation of the week” comes into play.
I have noticed on campus, that even though people want to better society, they don’t want to collaborate to do so.
Maybe it is apathy or egos, but it seems to be getting in the way for the betterment of society (or in our case, campus).
I came across a quote this week by Randy Mitchell, in one of my classes, which really spoke to this, “There are no enemies in higher education…just friends and allies with whom we have yet to collaborate.”
I get it though; it is so easy to go through life just sticking to what you know and how you live your daily life. It is easy to be apathetic.
But what do you really get out of that? How do you develop your passions when you are never learning new ways to think about them? How do you develop your own self?
Most of you reading this work or study on a college campus.
What a place to not only develop yourself as a person, but what a place to develop your passions!
Think about it, by collaborating with the right people or organizations, you could learn so many new things or help to bring speakers to campus who have so much to share and enrich your lives.
The university setting is a very unique environment, where you can openly be whoever you want to be.
There are organizations for every personality and passion out there and here’s the best part…wait for it…if there isn’t one you like, you can create one!
What other environment can offer that?
I leave you with homework this week. Find someone on campus, anyone, and find some commonality.
Then, go out and find a group who also shares that commonality. Then, find another group. And another.
I think you will find that we all have more in common than you think.
In the words of Randy Mitchell, “Face it, what have you got to lose?”
