Why did I come to college? Why did I choose this path to take after high school?

I believe in enjoying life. I believe in variety, respect, responsibility, caring, love, honesty and fun.

I have a 3.8 G.P.A. I don’t skip class. I am a member of a fraternity.

I love to have big social gatherings, and I like to drink beer. I get involved with everything on campus that I have time for.

I actively plan my future. I don’t need a babysitter.

When the time came for me to broaden my horizons after high school, I believed that Iowa State would be a good place to learn about life and how to take care of myself as an adult.

That includes learning to manage alcohol and school. I think I’ve done a fine job of it.

Every day, I feel the constraints on my social life growing tighter and tighter.

I believe that the social experience at college equals what is learned in the classroom.

No matter what your G.P.A., a business will not hire someone who cannot interact well with others.

Now, I am all for keeping people safe, but there is a difference between keeping them safe and keeping them sheltered.

I admit that I don’t know every intricate action and proceeding of the different branches of government on campus, but I don’t know anyone else who does, either.

In short, I think we are being screwed over. The GSB, IFC and even certain fraternities seem to be lying down and obeying anything and everything that the university says while the DPS grows more powerful every day. I felt less guarded at home.

Am I the only one who feels this way?

Will anyone else stand up and take responsibility for their actions? I realize that there are some stupid individuals on this campus who don’t have any self-control.

I write this letter to them so maybe they will see that they are hurting their own as well as everyone else’s opportunities.

Wise up and look at yourself.

I also write this to anyone who holds a position of authority on this campus.

I want to let you know that there are people here who can be responsible, who still care about what happens around here —and that more pushing from you creates more pressure within us.

I would like to see what this campus could do.

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Ryan J. Flynn

Sophomore

Graphic design