Uhm. Stop Playing

This past weekend, I spent some time in Philadelphia at a graduate school retreat; while there, I and several other students from around the country toured the campus of University of Pennsylvania and participated in several mock classroom discussions with a few graduate students and professors from that institution.

One of the discussions at hand was Morehouse College's newly implemented dress code. Many students supported the college's attempt to prepare its students for the professional world but some still chose to disagree.

How dare someone disagree with a policy that makes that much sense? Let's be serious guys, aren't you a "student leader?"

The same crazy conversations happen here at Prairie View. How are we student leaders and we do things like show our undies and wear provocative clothing? I think it's because those people are, in fact, no leaders at all.

Or how about those self proclaimed leaders who like to get "loko" during school events? Ya'll are foolish and setting no example I would want my children to follow.

The things about a "student leader" that people tend to forget are the most important. Leaders are supposed to set positive examples and be role models. That means showing leadership in the classroom and with faculty. That means dressing appropriately, speaking politely and showing great character. These leaders, that we call ourselves voting for and gawking around, are pretenders. They have no such qualities.

Are you offended? Well...what can I say, so am I. I think it's ridiculous that we are being led by such fraudulent people.

Stop supporting these pretentious people. Who are they, really?

So to the "student leaders," uhm, stop playing. You're not real if you have to keep convincing yourself you're a good person. Realistically, there are a lot of young people on our campus who explore and learn about things they shouldn't be because they are following the footsteps of you guys setting your own standards of leadership.

Peer pressure does still exist, and in order for our university, and all of those productive people it says it produces to actually excel we must be more mindful of the future.

Those of you aspiring to be leaders and those of you who pretend to be that right now, fix yourself. If you want to be foolish, do so behind closed doors. I know we're all human and we're all young, but sacrifices must be made. Point blank.

Whitney Harris