3 Commentary Topics

1. Walking to the Math & Physics building 2 weeks ago, I came across a decorated table promoting a club called TOMS shoes which had a friendly and down to earth atmosphere. The TOMS shoes club is a company that sells shoes to consumers and organizes shoe drops in developing countries; following the model to give a free pair of shoes away for ever pair bought. Seeing the members so happy designing shoes for students to buy and a full donation box made me realize that a passion for humanitarianism was a strong character in the club, but likewise for me and my minor in Anthropology. Seeing such a cause I could relate to I walked over to ask a few questions and introduce myself. As I talked to one of the members, the flashback of a memory from last years Vans Warped Tour ran through my thoughts and remember wanting to get involved because along with the like-minded peers participating, I wanted to put my hands to work to make a difference for others. At this point the tent had gained a small crowd foreshadowing to me a big following of the club at UCF to come. Starting in the spring 2010 semester, I will be attending more events such as a 1-mile barefoot walk to create awareness and participate in monthly gatherings to get more involved. All thanks to the help of a table placed outside of the hustling Student Union.

2. Every other Tuesday and Thursday morning, as I'm walking to class for chemistry, my wake up walk routine is bluntly disrupted by the ear-drum shattering music of UCF's Metal Appreciation Club in fron of the Student Union. While I am a proud fan of new and progressive metal in today's music scene (not too much older works), I probably speak for a large student body by stating that such loud volume in a dense public area is quite a nuisance. I believe and respect the fact that fans want to express their culture, but I don't think it should be in a place where dozens of other clubs and organizations are trying to convey their messages to other students as well. The problem is that everyone has trouble listening to others; and at such an early time of the day, even some metal fans themselves would prefer some peace and quiet during their morning commute to class. The solution; simply relocate the Metal Appreciation Club to another area on campus, or at a later time in the day. An area per say between the Health Center & Libra where there's minimal foot traffic. Although like myself, others see the Metal Appreciation club at UCF as an insignificant one, I believe that it's a fabulous way to expand the musical horizons of any willing individual and an open-mindedness towards music leads to open-mindedness towards others perspectives & the world around you.

3. If you have ever walked near the Psychology building or by the UCF Arena, you most likely noticed Memory Lane; a large rectangular field used for events such as tailgating or a place for students to relax & play sports. Last week, I couldn't help but notice a moderate sized gathering of tents in the same area and was very intrigued by the festivities taking place such as painting, music playing, and what seemed to be a very activist oriented attitude. I learned that tent city was established by UCF's own Campus Peace Action committee and were welcoming others to join in and pitch their own tent. Their purpose was to create awareness of their motives by alternating festivity themes every night from community, to equality, environment, art, and wellness. They wanted the opportunity to reach out to others with similar thoughts and give progressives a week long voice; just a place for people to relax. A good amount of people walked by with wary looks as well as if thinking it was a massive hippie convention & all the stereotypes that came along with it. The event reminded me of being at the 2007 Langerado Music Festival in Big Cypress National Park in west Florida. The three days of music and art introduced me to quite a handful of people with whom I was able to spend time with and talk about music, ideologies, and politics. While I didn't post a tent myself, I visited my friend veronica who had set one up. Overall, my time there was quite a unique experience; I felt as if I were far away from any university or sign of civilization beyond the point of a small village.