Students’ Views

I’m sitting at my desk which is covered in random papers and books. It looks like a laundry bomb exploded on my bed and floor. My pantry is basically empty, as is my checking account and my to-do list is the longest it’s been in recent history.

So I’m trying to think about the last two weeks but all I can really get my head around is the week ahead of me…

BUT, I’ll try to go over the highlights.

This weekend, of course, was the Austin City Limits music festival. SO FUN! I’m more than a little bit sunburned, have lost my voice and am extremely exhausted but, man, I saw some awesome shows. It’s really hard to pick but my favorite was probably Fleet Foxes; the guys were so genuine and they sounded (if this is possible) even better live than on their albums. Beck of course was AMAZING and Conor Oberst was pretty sweet too. Man Man was a crazy show but super cool and N.E.R.D. put on one of the most fun shows of the weekend, for sure.

It’s also fun running into so many people you know at such a huge event. I think we’ve established that if you are trying to meet up with a friend, you absolutely will not ever see them BUT if you aren’t looking for anyone at all, you will probably run into everyone you know, both from college and high school.

The masses waiting to see MGMT

Moving backwards, last Sunday was the UN’s International Day of Peace. So, some members the Student Peace Alliance attended a walk for peace in Austin. We congregated at the steps of the Texas Capital and then walked in complete silence to City Hall where there was a meditation and then various speakers, including Southwestern’s SPA president Martin Fergus. We even made the local news!

It was so reaffirming to hear the supportive car honks and cheers and see people waving and smiling as we marched along. I didn’t attend the walk last year but I’m told by people that did that the turn out this year far exceeded that of last years. It’s obvious then that people are starting to understand that without taking action and demonstrating our support for peaceful movements, nothing will change.

SPA on the Capitol steps

I’m getting really excited for fall break in two weeks. Like, REALLY excited. A fairly sizable group of friends and I, somewhere around fifteen, are heading to New Mexico to volunteer for Barak Obama. The campaign is trying to organize supporters in states that probably won’t go to Obama (i.e. Texas) to canvas in swing states, where their efforts are more needed (i.e. New Mexico). It’s going to be a great experience and tons of fun. I can’t WAIT to go and then to tell you all about it when I get back.

But, until then, as was briefly mentioned above, I have about twenty-thousand things due this week. Among them: two essays, a research paper and two tests. So, I’m pretty sure cleaning my room will have to wait…