Your call to service

By Travis Fick
News Editor

One common theme that President Barack Obama reiterated throughout the entire 2008 presidential campaign was his call to service for all Americans.

In his inaugural address on Jan. 20, 2009, Obama said, “What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world.”

This call to service will remain in history with calls from past presidents, such as John F. Kennedy’s infamous calling for Americans to “Ask not what your country can do for you- ask what you can do for your country.”

This is our generation’s call to serve the nation that has given us so many opportunities. We were not asked to sacrifice or to serve America during the past eight years, but in a time where we face financial uncertainty, two difficult wars and a society full of injustices, we must take heed to the call from our new president and fulfill the duties that we all have toward our country.

Read more...

There are many opportunities to serve our nation. Americans have the opportunity to serve in the military, Peace Corps, Teach for America and many more. But these are not the only opportunities that we as collegians have to fulfill the duty to our fellow man.

On the Saint Mary’s University Winona campus, there are endless opportunities in which students can be involved. We have humanitarian organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, S.O.U.L. and Volunteer Services that benefit those less fortunate. You can serve your fellow students by being their voice in the Student Senate. You can assist in planning and operating constructive and engaging activities as a member of Student Activities Committee. You can clean up and advocate for the environment by becoming a member of Eco-Reps.

Though opportunities are great, need is even greater. Will we be a generation that allows our nation to fall into the hands of intolerance and ignorance? Or will we be the modern-day “greatest generation”? The future of our nation is in our hands. I call on every student, administrator, faculty and staff member of the SMU community to act upon the call our new president has made.