Stolen Spirit Cup represents all that is good

Dear Editor,

We, the Winter Carnival ‘99 Committee, would like to thank everyone who took part in the Carnival this year.

Without the students’ involvement as participants, volunteers or judges it would not have been such a great success.

We hope we accomplished our only goal, which was for everyone to have fun, and the hidden torch added to the enjoyment of the whole week.

Unfortunately, we are writing to report another item that disappeared during Winter Carnival, only this time it is not a joke.

Sometime between 1:00-4:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 2, the Winter Carnival Spirit Cup was stolen from the 24 Hour Lounge in the Fred Nichols Campus Centre.

It is a brass bowl mounted on a block of black marble with the engraving, "Spirit Cup Champions."

Trust me, you can’t miss it!

This is a new award Winter Carnival introduced this year. It is given to the team demonstrating the most spirit and dedication to sportsmanship during the week.

This year’s first-ever winners of the award, Foot Patrol, were never officially presented with the award because it was stolen before the closing ceremonies on Saturday night.

The Winter Carnival Committee, and especially Foot Patrol, would like to see this trophy returned as soon as possible. It means a lot to all of us because of what it represents: the highest morals and values at Laurier.

If anyone has any information regarding this incident, please contact Chetan Bhanot, VP: Student Activities, in the Student Union offices.

We also ask that if someone has taken it by mistake, thinking maybe it was his or her spirit cup, to bring it back as soon as possible. I guess these things happen.

Kim, Sharon, Alison, Caroline, Greg, Antoine and Woody (the Beaver)

Winter Carnival ‘99 Committee

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Remember, candidates are people too

Dear Editor,

Robert F. Kennedy once said, "We all know that only those who dare to fail greatly, can ever achieve greatly." Certainly this can be applied to the current Students’ Union elections.

I have been through the rigamarole of the situation before. Those applicants who have dared to enter the world of student politics have shown both determination and guts.

A campaign is time consuming, frustrating, thrilling, defeating and entertaining. Those of you who are running should be applauded.

During my life at Laurier, I have heard various remarks aimed squarely at the Board of Directors, sometimes even before they are elected. Some of the remarks could be classified at best as non-encouraging.

The students running in these elections are your peers. Just because they have a poster of themselves on the Science Building wall saying, "Vote for me!" doesn’t mean they don’t watch Friends, or go to classes and bars.

These are our friends and classmates running for election. They deserve our support and gratitude and, at the very least, they deserve to be voted upon.

The greatest danger in this school’s student elections is not one of bad candidates or illegal campaigning activities, but student apathy. Less than one-third of the students vote in the elections.

What does this say about us? So please, respect the candidates and remember to vote.

Kent Williams, ‘98-99 BOD

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Waterbuffaloes represent all that is good

Dear Editor,

I find it extremely unfortunate that the people in charge of our school newspaper, our source of campus information, are so ill-informed and disillusioned with our student body. It makes me sick.

I took it upon myself to visit The Cord office in response to a so-called comical caption of the Waterbuffaloes in last week’s Cord. I was told it captured the epitome of the meaning of the Waterbuffaloes, and their sole reason for living is for drinking.

I was further told this reason to occupy space on earth is a commonalty shared by all students at Wilfrid Laurier.

Not to my surprise, staff of The Cord were unaware of the fact the Waterbuffaloes contributed $500.00 to charity last year, are four-time winners of Winter Carnival, participate in the Walk for Literacy, Homecoming Parade, Jump Rope for Heart (in which they raised the most money) and are the most well-known aspect of Laurier life.

No, I did not say Laurier is known for poor-tasted writers, who do not take the time to be informed of various campus activities and clubs. I said the Waterbuffaloes.

I was just wondering if The Cord was featured as an exciting part of student life in Maclean’s magazine for Laurier. I don’t think so.

Lastly, I challenge you to get off your lazy ass, push aside your computer and try something new.

It’s called socializing, no alcohol necessary, but most of us Laurier drunks, as you call us, thoroughly enjoy it.

You might even be able to reach out and touch someone other than yourself.

Brett Mooney

Waterbuffalo Executive