The university will be sponsoring a week of activities it hopes will make the campus a more "civil" environment. While it is certainly a noble venture, whether or not it is necessary is another question.
We feel the biggest impediment to active student participation in Civitas, is the lack of knowledge many students have of the program. It was launched by the administration, which doesn't always have the accurate pulse of the campus.
There seems also to have been a lack of effort that went into publicizing the initiative. Outside of table placards in TDR, not much else has been done. It makes the whole event seem like nothing more than lip service to an altruistic goal.
There is also the overriding feeling that AU's campus is not a particularly uncivil place. Sure, political magma may spew forth every now and then, but for the most part we all get along.
What is lacking here on campus is a lack of community. Students cluster either on the south or north sides of campus, or in their various organizations. Athletics do not provide quite the communal getaway as at other schools.
Perhaps the administration could look for ways to bring the students together as members of the AU community. We're pretty civil, but we could use something to celebrate other than a campaign every four years.
