Lessons learned from Agrawal this year

Well, the end of an academic year has already arrived. My first year of writing commentary for The Daily Campus is over. If you have read any or all of my articles, perhaps you agreed with or were angry with some of my criticisms and compliments. Either way, I hope there are a few general non-partisan principles that came across.

A large number of the articles I have written concerned issues relevant to a student audience. Many were issues that have taken place on-campus with a direct influence on students. Some of the articles I have written were very political in nature and were highly critical of the administration.

Even in worldly topics, I attempted to select issues with clear applications to students. Issues that seem distant and political are of great concern to our generation, because the stakes we have in these issues are great. From issues being debated on-campus to issues reverberating through the halls of Congress, there is a role for the average student. Here are several lessons from the articles I wrote this year. Moreover, if you do not believe me, at least trust the quotes I have selected from great American leaders.

First, the administration is not always right. "Administration" is an all-encompassing word that extends to the Bush administration, the UConn administration or any administration in general. Great authorities do not always have all the answers and their authority must be questioned at times. All leaders are human and make mistakes. Along those lines, Congress is not always right, nor am I always right in my personal opinions. Therefore, differences of opinion must be accepted as diversity of thought. Abraham Lincoln acknowledged his own humanity by saying, "If the end brings me out all right, what's said against me won't amount to anything. If the end brings me out wrong, 10 angels swearing I was right would make no difference."

Second, the greatness of the governing body in America is leaders seek out the input of citizens. It is right to speak out and question the President of the United States or the President of the university. Not only is it right to speak out against the majority, but our democracy requires and compels us to participate and criticize. The positions and viewpoints of leaders should not be taken as fact. Rather, society as a whole should discuss, debate and question every issue and every authority. The requirement of dissent is what makes democracy great. Adlai Stevenson was correct in saying, "My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular."

Third, society must embrace the common values of helping the poor and powerless. Certain values and goals for society can be accepted as universally American. Such values include working to improve the lives of the poor, ensuring equality in education and granting justice for all in addition to creating racial and gender equality. We must continually strive to tame society so justice emerges from injustice, equality from inequality and richness from poverty. Kennedy summarized the American mission when he said, "Let us dedicate ourselves to what the Greeks wrote so many years ago: to tame the savageness of man and make gentle the life of this world."

Fourth, change and progress are good things. The world around is one becoming increasingly resistant to change, yet one that increasingly requires change. Accepting change and accepting the inability to fail to change are extremely important. Surrounding society are fundamental problems that are asking for change, yet are unable to progress. When progress fails, not all is lost because the majority has spoken. However, when society changes and progresses, society must not fear change because a majority has also spoken. Robert Kennedy said it best once again, "Some men see things as they are and ask, why. I dream things that never were and ask, why not."

Fifth, the issues before the administration at the university or before the government of the United States are all issues of the youth. While certain political issues may seem far and distant from individual concern, every decision made will ultimately influence the quality of life for the younger generation. Issues may seem of concern only to a certain organization or segment of the population, but in reality all issues are dynamic. All issues involve some sacrifice or application by the younger generation. Pericles wrote, "Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean that politics won't take an interest in you."

Sixth, many of the problems in society come down to questions of money and budgeting. Many of the situations facing the university that prevent the hiring of additional staff involve budget shortfalls. The inability to adopt most proposals by the federal government is also a result of financial constraints. Budgeting is a topic that may be foreign and mysterious to most people, but it is becoming more important in this ever-changing world. The ability to deliver the necessary services is a direct function of the ability to find the necessary money. It is unfortunate money is power, but money used correctly can mean effective programs. John Kennedy spoke about the importance of economics, "The great free nations of the world must take control of our monetary problems if these problems are not to take control of us."

The seventh and final lesson is of a very personal nature. I have now written nearly 25 articles for the commentary section, some better than others. The last lesson is thus - the audience always desires an encore presentation. Therefore, to those who faithfully read this far in my columns, rest assured I am only a junior and that I plan to return to writing commentary on a weekly basis next year. The politician who best summarized this lesson may not have been judged by history as of yet, but he said it best. Arnold Schwarzenegger: "I'll be back!"