To the Editor:
I never thought I would become disillusioned with Tufts University, but this very sensation overcame me Friday night while attending the Relay for Life. When asked about what I enjoy most about Tufts, my first response is, of course, the students.
The turnout at the Relay for Life, however, made me feel embarrassed to be associated with a student body that displayed such little interest in the event. To be fair, the event itself was enjoyable and well organized, and it made up in compassion and inspiration what it lacked in turnout. Those who did attend were very happy to be there.
Yet, despite over 600 students registering for the Relay, I would be extremely surprised if more than half actually attended the event for any extended period of time. However, I was not so much frustrated by the low turnout as the deeper issue it reflected within the undergraduate community. How can Tufts University claim to be educating the "leaders of the future" if we, the supposed "future leaders," cannot even muster a turnout of more than 10 percent of the entire student body to fight for such a worthy cause as the eradication of cancer in our society?
The argument may be made that a few dedicated attendees is more important than a hoard of uninterested individuals. However, I have a feeling that many of the cancer survivors in attendance Friday night would find such logic appalling. Larger turnout surely provides a moral boost to those who have spent their life battling cancer. Yet, there is a more important question that we must ask ourselves: Why are we, as a community, so disinterested in such an important and noble cause?
To be fair, many people surely had legitimate reasons for not attending the Relay. Even I myself couldn't stay the entire night due to three midterms on Monday. However, regardless of what students chose to do with their Friday night, the lack of interest in the Relay was unmistakable.
Actions are a profound indicator of beliefs. I believe the poor turnout of our community on Friday night severely misrepresented what Tufts University stands for. I urge all members of the Tufts community to live up to what it truly means to be a Jumbo. When the Relay for Life rolls around next year, I look forward to seeing a larger, enthusiastic and genuinely interested group of individuals supporting this worthy cause.
Dan Slate
Class of 2011
