Admirable effort

Last week, due to the hard work of senior Katie Medford, Stem Cell Awareness Week put into action a string of fundraising and awareness events on the River Campus — overall, it raised approximately $10,000 for the development of stem cell research.

Medford is just one example of a UR student taking the initiative for a cause that he or she is passionate about. Her passion for stem cell research — she dedicated the event to her father, who is a quadriplegic — showed just how much one person can impact the whole UR community.

Other students are answering this call as well, embodying the “ever better” quality our school prides itself on. ArtAwake, a giant undertaking by any measure, was successful due to the admirable efforts of seniors Carlin Gettliffe and Zachary Kozick, who organized a night that appealed to both UR and Rochester community members.  Even Fill Fauver was an example of student initiatives working to improve the quality of life on campus, bringing bigger crowds to sporting events. Most recently, the hard work done by junior Eric Weissmann, seniors Dave Borrelli and Dan Fink and Chris Babcock ’07 was on display when the biodiesel bus made its maiden voyage yesterday.

Medford and others prove the assumption false that students in general are apathetic — their passion should inspire both individuals and groups to embrace their ability to make a difference. By using the resources of a group or the benefits of good relationships, these students put enthusiasm into action. It is easy to undercut the role of the individual in an undergraduate body of over 5,000, but these examples show that positive change is attainable by any student with the drive to see a goal come to fruition.