On Wednesday night, the 28th of February, I attended a gathering – no, something much more – a passionate convergence of highly motivated and inspirational Drew University students; a convergence vibrating not only with a want and determination for a functioning democratic participatory system, but above all, vibrating with frequencies of peace, love and a desire to do good by bettering our campus and its inhabitants. If you have not already guesses, the meeting I attended, was a Students for a Democratic Society meeting. After an hour an a half of observing and conversing with the members of this group, I, myself, was inspired to produce a reaction to what I experienced which I present to you now.
The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:00 pm with students commenting around the circle what SDS was in their eyes. Newcomers like myself, of which there were a few, were also encouraged to comment on why they were at the meeting. I mentioned that having heard about SDS through several friends, I was there to learn more and also that I had sat in on an SGA meeting and now I wanted to sit in on an SDS meeting. The meeting then continued with the first topic on the agenda which was to discuss the execution of a police brutality workshop to inform students what they can and can’t say or do to Public Safety and police in general, as well as other information pertinent to DPD officers being dicks towards students.
Now I will not try to pretend that I am the most outgoing person on campus, nor that I am quick to make friends or even casual acquaintances, least of all as a newcomer in a group of people, the majority of which I have never met before, however I was almost shocked as how quickly I felt that my presences at the meeting was not only acknowledged, but what’s more, greatly appreciated. Forget for a moment the fact that SDS is a group of people aspiring to function as a truly participatory system which would required them to acknowledge every voice that speaks up. Throw this aside, and trust me when I say that this is a group of genuine, sincere, wholeheartedly caring and accepting people that want to be your friend. I truly feel as though I have just made a dozen now friends with whom I could go to right now and strike up a conversation with.
Now toss back into the salad the fact that all these real and caring people are gathering under one roof and you’ve got a band of powerfully compassionate people with vibrations of devotion and sincerity resonating together into one strong voice that deeply desires to bridge the gap between the administration and the students of
I am seriously turned on and I want to hear more.
-Dan Bindschedler
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