Welcome Brandeisians far and wide, to the first edition of this splendid column that I will call The Opinion. Now, in a day and age when many opinions are being thrown into the public, some may find my column tactless. I mean, with so much happening in the world, how does one Jewish, non-binary history major think that their opinions about the world/school/life/everything matter to the extent that they want to write a piece in the University newspaper? I mean, come on! There are people more deserving of a platform who haven’t had the voice to speak.

Well that’s the thing, you tongue-tied people, this won’t just be about me. My dream, my hope, my aspiration is that you will email me your opinions — any opinions you want — and I will share them anonymously and discuss or examine them. Now, I may or may not agree with you, and I definitely do not have all of the answers (nor am I trying to say that I am always correct), but I will keep an open mind. That is doing more than most people in this day and age. 

Now, I grew up in a world of modern media telling female-bodied people, like myself, not to be opinionated. To be amply quiet and smile politely while the world burns around them. So, I have grown afraid to be “troublesome,” to be outwardly vindictive when I feel wronged. In a way, this column will be like … therapy. A weird form of exposure therapy where I can vent my opinions to a bunch of peers that I may see in class. Fun. 

But nonetheless, I feel like sometimes I walk around Brandeis like I’m in a force field where I’m the only one who can see the small problems that emerge. So, I want to be the first to break the ice in a peaceful, nonconfrontational manner. 

Here is my first opinion: people take clubs too seriously.

Now, I am nervous to discuss this because I have numerous friends who have fallen under this offense. However I feel like it must be discussed. I understand that there is a need, a want, to make something perfect. To achieve that pinnacle of success. To win the election and get the executive board position you wanted. To be acknowledged and thanked for your hard work. I get that want. I have that want. But I also know that when I first started college, I didn’t join clubs to be reminded of what is happening in the real world. I didn’t join clubs to have the carnage of a Hunger Games-esque social situation — one that, by the way, I am still trying to understand.

I know the people of the club I am talking about know who they are, though, to be honest, I am sure that many clubs fall under the aforementioned descriptions. All I am saying is that a lot of the clubs I am associated with in some way — be it through personal participation or acquainted dabbles — have turned into a wreckage of sorts. It seems like, be it for better or for worse, clubs have turned into … well … politics. 

For instance, some club elections turn into a place where candidates can bargain for alliances instead of just running normally — or, even better, not telling people which position you are running for so the elections can actually be fair. Remember when fairness used to be people’s utmost concern? Yeah? Neither can I. To be honest, I think the world has just deteriorated so severely that winning is the only thing that matters.

Some risk friendships because of how elections turned out. Others take elections so damn seriously that people can’t see the fun in participating in them anymore. Look, I am not one to squander competitive spirit or say, “Hey! Perfectionistic tendencies can ruin a person and make everybody hate them!” Because, who am I kidding? I make the same mistakes. But I also know that if I was a first-year student seeing how some campus clubs operate, I would run away at the quickest opportunity.

I found my best friends in clubs, and from what I hear, some clubs are doing phenomenally. However, I can’t be the only one who notices, if silently, that there are clubs that have taken things too far, dabbling too much in reality and breaking the playful attitude that clubs should have. Selfishly, I attend clubs to get away from the real world, not to watch it unfold. I shouldn’t have to feel dread walking into a club, and I don’t want anyone else to feel that way either.

So, from one Brandeisian to the other Brandesians who are reading this, I think we all need to focus on brightening up a little bit and remembering that fun only happens when people are enjoying themselves. Be playful! Even if the world is going to shit, there is still good that can come out of positivity.

If you have an opinion you want to be made public but are afraid of being judged, email me at: theopinion2027@gmail.com.

I swear with my hand on the Bible, that anyone who submits their opinion will be left anonymous. It can be as short or as long as you’d like and it can be about anything you would want to share. My aim is to give a platform to voice students’ opinions who may not be open to sharing them out loud. Or, if you’d like to disagree with my opinion, feel free to email me and maybe I’ll find myself corrected. I will be publishing (hopefully) every other week, with either an opinion of mine or yours, so stay tuned!

May everyone continue to be able to express themselves with their First Amendment right to free speech. And with this ends what will hopefully be a biweekly column. Have a good day.