Dear Longwood University,
I came here following in the footsteps of my mom, a proud alum whos graduation photo is displayed on the wall of Lancaster. My mom was an inspiration to me, as she waited tables at Macado's to put herself through school and lived at the top of Buffalo Street in the house we all know as Hospital. She loved her time at Longwood and the memories she made, and I came here with hopes of doing the same.
Over the course of the last month, I have become increasingly disappointed with the community of Longwood.
I always thought that this university was looking out for its student body in every possible way. When tragedies have struck, our president has spoken out and arranged for counseling for those affected.
When the words "Trump 2018" appeared on campus buildings and sidewalks in chalk, we heard from our community just in case anyone was upset by the right of free speech. Teams, sororities, fraternities, and organizations alike have a mass amount of backing and support....well, most of them. Given the backing of other organizations and the support our school has provided its students before, I pose this question:
Why is it okay to speak out about chalk, but not try to help those who were physically assaulted by students at a neighboring college?
I am in no position to speak out on behalf of unrecognized/off-campus organizations, but I am more than willing to voice my opinion about the lack of support they receive. We are all human beings, no matter what organizations we are involved in and based on what I have been taught my entire life, I believe that we are all granted the right to pursue things even when they aren't considered part of the "norm". That's America, right?
I want the Longwood community to hear about the opinion of an outsider on off-campus organizations and Longwood's lack to be there for them as equal parts of our community and student body. Regardless of personal feelings towards off-campus involvement, those students deserve justice too. They were physically assaulted and on-campus organizations took time to reach out and ask if they were okay or needed anything, but where was the university they call home? Where was the support that other recognized organizations would have received if they would've been in the same position?
I'm disappointed to say the very least.
I'm disappointed that my friends and their organization don't feel supported by their university and more so that the student body is constantly encouraged (or in many cases told) to avoid all contact and involvement with them.
So they do things a little different than your nationally recognized sororities and fraternities, but who are you to judge them? Why is it okay to walk around preaching to stop hate but then hate on others because they aren't exactly like you?
I feel that our community has failed its students.
At a time in history where women are being encouraged to speak out about assaults both physical and sexual, our students aren't being helped.
Our "home" called Longwood that stands for equality among students is teaching some that it's okay to treat off-campus organizations with less respect and utter disgust. Our school was founded for women, so why are some of ours being ignored when they need the support the most? You Longwood, are showing women that their issues are not important.
In just a short time I will leave Longwood in the rearview and move on to what people my age call "adulting." I have loved my time here and I will leave having made lifelong friends and some of the most incredible memories.
I hope one day I can tell my kid stories of my time with the same excitement as my mom, the excitement that made me choose this school as my home to begin with. Longwood I love you, but I am so ashamed at this time to have this love and to be a member of a community that doesn't practice what it preaches. What are we going to do about that?
Sincerely,
A Disheartened Lancer
