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Readers' Forum

Readers' Forum: 2/19/19

Family dinner

Tired of Top Ramen? Dying to eat something homemade? Craving real food, new friendships, and good times? Satisfy your cravings by eating dinner with your roommates.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: use homework or nap time to eat with my roommates? Sunday is one of the only days where I don’t have to be at work or school and you want me to use precious time to eat dinner? Yes, eat dinner with your roommates, your new BYU family.

During my first Sunday at BYU my roommates and I decided we would cook dinner together. The menu had quite the variety with all the different contributions, but fried rice, sautéed chicken and green salad never tasted so good. Through dinner we became friends instead of strangers. Eating dinner with my roommates left me feeling full and with less of a desire to go home for Mom’s cooking. I felt a little less homesick, a big issue among college freshmen.

By eating dinner with your roommates you create a sense of community with them and leave no room being homesick. Invite others to join in your community and help them overcome their own homesickness. Include an apartment of the opposite gender and who knows, maybe you’ll even find “the one.” My dad, a BYU alumni and expert with food, always says, “the quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.” You never know what could happen.

Make new friends and create your own little sense of community by eating dinner with your roommates. My roommates and I have truly enjoyed our time together trying to make something that “tastes like Mom’s,” as can you. Now, the only question is: what will you be eating for dinner this Sunday with your BYU family?

— McCall Smith

Malad, Idaho

ROC line

Webster’s New World College Dictionary defines loyalty as “an obligation of support and faithfulness.” BYU student sports fans are frequently used as a synonym to this definition.

Every home game you can see hundreds of students in line at 8 a.m. just to try and get a ticket to the game. Many of these students have already spent several nights on the concrete for a chance to secure a decent ticket. After finally receiving their line pass, these students must then show up at least three hours before the game to go wait in yet another line.

The time has come to reward those loyal students who participate in this endless line waiting game after game. Instead of forcing these enthusiastic students to wake up early to get a line pass, how about we put it a sign-up sheet online?  We should stop the dreaded three hour line and replace it with an app that will alert you when it’s your turn to go in.

These changes would be game changers and would make the game day experience much better for these students. Although some might be concerned that making these changes would bring down the game day hype, I believe the energy that is used in the line waiting process could be saved to help us be the student section our teams need.

Now is the time to work together to make a change. The ROC should start an online sign-up sheet and app to improve the game day experience.

— Tyler Critchfield

Draper, Utah


Guest Opinion

Black history month

While February might be the month known for love, it is also celebrated as Black History Month. It is a month to commemorate past and present black individuals who made or are making a powerful impact on this nation.

It wasn’t until four years ago that I started to celebrate Black History Month. I was born and raised in Sweden, a country with a history far different from that of the United States. However, when I moved to the States and started studying its history, I was blown away by the courageous black heroes, such as Rosa Park, Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King who changed this nation. Heroes who don’t get enough attention. The achievements of these individuals should be celebrated throughout the year.

However, I believe it to be good call to dedicate a specific month to raise awareness of the challenges many black people had to go through. Black History Month allows us to stop, remember and honor the people who fought for freedom, who fought for equality and who fought for acceptance.

Dr. Mae Jemison, the first female African-American astronaut once said, “Never be limited by other people’s limited imagination.”

This month is a reminder that even though the hardships of being a person of color in our society are immense, there are individuals with my skin color who made a life for themselves they are proud of, and so can I.

This month also serves as a reminder to never repeat the 200 year of crude history many African-American ancestors had to face. Black History Month belongs to all of us, no matter race or ethnicity. It helps us bring awareness of the strength and importance of diversity in our society. Without diversity, we would be nowhere. This is a month to recognize our people and to celebrate our culture and struggles together.

Black History Month is a month to celebrate black excellence.

— Karmen Kodia

Orebro, Sweden