In my Sept. 24 column, I described a window in the Leasure Hall tutoring office that was in such bad shape, it came equipped with a warning sign. I've been informed by my tutor since then that workers came up to take measurements of the window, and plans have been made to either repair or replace it.

It could be a coincidence.

Last Friday, I presented you a list of ideas to improve the school and asked readers to come up with ideas of their own. To date, I have yet to receive any improvement ideas from anyone. I'm a little disappointed, but not at all surprised.

I did, however, get some feedback about my suggestion to use students to do renovations around campus. It was suggested students should not do manual labor to improve this university, even if they receive school credit in return, because the purpose of getting an education is to avoid doing labor.

Really?

The Collegian printed an article on June 23, 2004, regarding some renovations done to the basement of Seaton Hall to add new design studios. According to the article, 26 architecture students were used to design and build the studios in exchange for class credit. Their efforts saved K-State more than $2 million, and the quotes used in that article contain strange phrases like "win-win" and "hands-on learning."

The media release of that same story, dated May 26, 2004, said, "The project was an opportunity to teach students the 'design-build' concept. While architects are trained how to design, few have actual construction experience."

By Jove, what an odd concept. Does an architect learn more about building structures if they actually take up a hammer and do it themselves? Does a landscape architect understand landscaping better if they trim tree limbs and understand how root systems grow and affect other objects nearby? I think the answer is simple: Duh.

One thing that can not be disputed is improvements are badly needed all over campus. If the decision was made to use students to do renovations to Seaton Hall or any of the other buildings on campus, students should be willing to volunteer, regardless of whether class credit is offered or not.

I would volunteer. I don't know the first thing about construction, and I'm not good at hammering, but I know for a fact there are things I can do that require more elbow grease than skill: moving supplies from point A to B, scraping paint off walls, repainting those walls and so on.

If shoveling dirt could save this school $1 million and improve the quality of learning for my fellow students, I would do it and you should want to do it, too. Why? Because I want to better myself and my university.

Where's your K-State pride, kids? Did you forget to bring it home from the last football game?

Maybe there are those of you who truly believe you are so privileged that a little work is asking too much of you. Perhaps you are so opposed to manual labor that you'd prefer to sit in a crumbling building and cry "woe is me" rather than do anything about it. Maybe the only so-called "work" you've ever done in your life is to beg mommy and daddy for their credit card.

Well, if begging is the best you can do, there's a job for you, too: the K-State Telefund. And while you're begging those hard-working alumni for money, don't forget to mention the funding we need for all the repairs around campus.


-Karen Ingram is a sophomore in English. Please send comments to opinion@spub.ksu.edu.