There has been a growing movement across the country to institute a pledge among graduating seniors, who promise to be socially and environmentally responsible in their careers. The University of Oregon is not exempt, and the school’s proposal would allow seniors the option to sign pledge cards at graduation. But the concept, while well-intentioned, is unnecessary and aligns the University with the political agenda of certain groups that support the vow.
Graduating seniors should already be aware of their social and environmental responsibilities without having to sign a card stating they will do so in the future. The pledge was a common feature at University commencements until four years ago, when student interest fizzled. But now a group of students want to bring back the Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility — but why bother? If the pledges weren’t working four years ago and the school hasn’t been able to drum up enough interest, why would anyone care today?
The pledge tradition was not ours to begin with, although it sounds like an idea born in the liberal woods of Eugene. The pledge started at the equally-liberal Humboldt State University in 1987 and has rapidly been incorporated at schools across the country. But just because other schools are hopping on the pledge bandwagon doesn’t mean the University should.
The University should be promoting a diversity of ideas on campus and a pledge of responsibility in the work force defeats this purpose. By incorporating the pledge, the University is upholding the values and views of the people supporting it, namely environmentally and socially conscious Web sites that appear on the back of the pledge cards. The school is supposed to remain neutral on these issues, and with the affiliation of political groups, commencement is tainted with activist rhetoric.
Graduation should be focused on the accomplishments of students after years of study, not misplaced environmentalism. By encouraging graduates to sign the pledge cards at commencement, activists are detracting from what the day should be about — celebrating academic success.
Students should understand their social and environmental responsibilities in the work force by the time they have left the University. Signing a piece of paper that affirms this is not only a waste of time, but an un-needed event at graduation. If students want to the sign the cards to affirm their commitments, they should do so on their own time.