I don’t know if you all have noticed this yet, but there seems to be a new club or new charity or new activity advertising itself via tables in the Caf every single day. From the Bus for Buyamba encouraging students to participate in an eight-mile walk on November 3rd (http://www.busforbuyamba.com) to the Dance Marathon advertising an all-night party on November 10th, there are options galore to fritter away one’s time and money.
Personally, I make it a point to stop by when I have time and say hi to friends stationed at the tables. I usually scout the premises for free candy and inquire as to the nature of that specific promotional. So far, I’ve scored (among other things) a couple tootsie pops from International Programs and a craving for frosted sugar cookies from the Equestrian Club’s bake sale.
As of about two weeks ago, I kept seeing fliers and posters and handouts and temporary tattoos all promoting something called (drum roll please): 10 Days. 10 days for what, you ask? Yeah, I asked that too. So, first, some basic info taken right from the website: “Starting on Wednesday, October 10th college students across the country will choose water as their only beverage for 10 Days. The money they save from not drinking coffee, soda, etc will be used to provide 10 Rwandan communities with clean safe water” (see http://10days.cc for more info…and no, I was not paid to write about this but, yes, my friends are involved. What conflict of interest? It’s a good cause and deserves press even if it comes from a little online article that no one except the author’s mom reads.) Anyway, more than 100 Pepperdine students have pledged themselves to participate in the 10 Days initiative. Good work, friends. The campaign even had a kickoff concert last Tuesday featuring the Royal Sons.
Drinking water to give water. Sounds pretty easy to me. I pride myself on drinking a lot of water, because, I mean, like, it’s healthy and stuff. But drinking only water? Now there would be the challenge. I like my morning iced coffee from the Caf. I like my afternoon hot coffee from La Brea. I like my midnight-brain-can’t-stay-awake-curse-you-midterms coffee from the Keurig in my lobby. I like all of those. And especially coming to college, my dependence on caffeinated beverages has reached a level of pure survival. So drinking only water?
I talked recently to Erice Hutchinson, a junior who is heavily involved with the 10 Days movement, and she confirmed that the lack of caffeine was the most challenging part. Uh, yeah, welcome to my (and everyone else’s) life. However, she confirmed that, for her, the caffeine deficit is worth it because “people will get clean water which will drastically change the way they live life.” Thank you for your time, Erice. I wish you all the best with your campaign.
And really, I wish all of the clubs, organizations, charities, philanthropies, concerts, dance marathons, bake sales, and anything else that my fellow students promote that will better the state of mankind. These people are indeed the ones carrying on Step Forward Day, carrying on the Pepperdine mission, because they are putting themselves, their reputation, and their name behind something they believe in. As Disney-fied as that may sound, I think it holds true nonetheless.
Dear friends, keep crowding the Caf with your tables. Keep throwing sign-up sheets and pledge cards my way. Don’t be surprised if I stop by to say hi, sign up for whatever it is you are promoting, steal some candy. I wish you all the best with your individual endeavors…may you stay awake through your classes regardless of the amount of caffeine in your body. And ayo waves.