Apathy IS a Problem

By: Courtney Jones

Posted: 10/21/09

What is apathy?

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, apathy is defined as:

1) A lack of feeling or emotion

2) A lack of interest or concern; indifference.

3) Stoicism. Freedom from emotion of any kind.

4) Absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement.

5) A response to an easy challenge for which the subject has matched skills.

The word "apathy" derives from the Greek word "apatheia." Also meaning "absence of passion,","apathy" or "insensibility" in Greek, the term apatheia was used to signify a wanted state of indifference for what one is not responsible for. An apathetic individual has an absence of interest or concern to emotional, social, or physical life.

Apathy is an issue that should really exist on college campuses. But lately I've noticed some of it around Longwood. Longwood has so many organizations and events to be a part that there is definitely something for everyone.

It seems like every major has a club. History majors have a history club. Communication Studies majors have communications club. Political science has political science club. If you are interested in a subject enough to study it for four years and invest all that time and money then I should hope that you would be interested enough to be involved in a club with similar ideas. Is the light bulb on yet? It should be.

There is also another kind of apathy. Some people join organizations but then never do anything within them. These people go to weekly or monthly meetings but never participate in activities or events or anything. You join a club and then don't do anything, so why join at all? Say your organization is raising money to fight a disease like cancer. Why don't you donate some time or money towards the cause? That way you are helping your organization and doing something or a good cause. You will feel good about yourself after that.

This isn't too much of an issue at Longwood, since many students are involved in organizations; some people are in several. There is also a large amount of people that join Greek organizations. According to Longwood's website, about "Thirty percent of Longwood students are in fraternities or sororities and these Greek organizations make a lot happen on campus." When you first come to Longwood's homepage, you are greeted with some text that reads "Discover the power in you." It's good advice. At what point in your life other than right now in college, do you have to discover who you are?

To an extent, that is what college is all about. When you go to college you are given four whole years (at least) to do nothing to continue your education and learn who you are. In high school you still live at home with your parents, so your freedom is limited. After college, you need to get a job and start the real adult portion of your life. So college seems like a pretty sweet time to experiment and see what you like to be involved in and what you don't.

Apathy is not just an idea either. There are two other main causes of apathy that could also lead to serious illness. Apathy can be brought on after witnessing a horrific act, like death or some other form of intense trauma. It can be associated with several illnesses such as Huntington's disease, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, excessive Vitamin D ingestion and depression. Apathy can also be difficult to identify, since the main sign is a lack of interest (which is not an uncommon trait with everyone). Most people also become show sluggishness, which can easily be mistaken for laziness or sleepiness.

There were some signs posted around campus that say, "Your ignorance and apathy is their power. What positive difference are you making?" So Longwood, what positive difference are you making?