my letter of support

ok, so I was kinda debating on whether I wanted to post this on here or not since it is a little personal. But under the circumstances, I feel it's suprememly important to support this club in every way possible. The following is the letter I sent via snail mail to the chancellor, deans, etc.
-minty

______

Chancellor Cantor,

There is no need to remove the Syracuse University Outing Club (SUOC) from the control of the Student Association (SA) making it a part of Recreation Services. The structure of SUOC is a finely crafted one, one that has run problem free for
70 years. The web of interaction and trust, development of responsibility and self esteem, should not be tampered with. It is a fine structure that needs nurturing NOT administrative control.

I came to Syracuse as a transfer student, my sophomore year, only to be confronted by an impenetrable student body with different values than my own. I fell into a near suicidal depression, taking handfuls of over the counter pills just to sleep through the time. It was without a doubt the worst two years of my life.

The first week of my senior year I made a promise to myself to try anything in my power to seek out some redeeming quality this ‘great’ university might actually have to offer. I joined nearly every club on campus to no avail. Until there was one; I wandered into a Syracuse University Outing Club meeting and for the first time saw students working together in a non-competitive fashion. These were students not concerned by the overwhelming corporatism and need for brand identity that runs rampant through the rest of the campus. For once there was a gathering of people concerned with sharing experience, responsibility and adventure.

I became a very active member of the club. Taking part in rock climbing, ice climbing, white water kayaking and caving. Each trip, lead by fellow students certified in Wilderness First Aid and highly experienced in the given activity, gave me a newfound piece of my own self-esteem. These trips taught me, that yes, you can trust people, yes, people do have interests outside of Steve Maddens’ latest shoe style, and yes, Laissez-faire does work.

I am now in graduate school with my thesis focusing on the significance of caves. I am confident I would not have made it to this point in either my education or my life without the camaraderie and experience SUOC has provided. Please do not undermine the importance of this club or the need for it to remain student run.

Please feel free to contact me with any further questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
Mindy Goldberg
415.596.3895
mjosta@comcast.net