Editorials
Week Of March 22, 2004
3
An Open Letter of thanks to the St. Andrews Community
Leigh Anna Clinard
The Lance
I am graduating from college in six
weeks. This is an incredible accomplishment
considering my parents had to talk me into going
to college. After high school, all I wanted to do
was work, and I definitely had no burning desire
to pursue higher education. But then I did listen
to my parents and I came to visit St. Andrews. I
felt welcomed by the admissions staff; and I hon-
esdy felt that they wanted me to be a part of the
community. This feeling of acceptance contin
ued as I met students, faculty, and other employ
ees of the college. I continue to be amazed at the
lengths people will go around here to help each
other out.
I want to take this opportunity during
my last semester at SAPC to thank all those that
have helped to make my undergraduate experi
ence a life-changing one.
Tank you Admissions, for helping me
make the decision to come here, and for provid
ing the best work-study job imaginable. Thank
you for supporting me through difficult times,
and for always maintaining your enthusiasm
towards St. Andrews and its mission.
Thank you Faculty, for insisting that I
give my personal best all of the time. Because of
your persistence, I have accomplished more than
I thought possible. You taught me as much
about myself as you taught me about academics.
Without your support I would never have pur
sued a post-graduate legal education.
Thank you Students, for the good times.
When the rigors of academia became overwhelm
ing, you provided an escape. Thank you for
being individuals. I have learned from the diver
sity of your perspectives. We all come from dif
ferent places and understanding your worldview
had broadened mine.
To the Staff that ensures such mundane
details as whether or not the lights work, whether
or not we have clean common areas, or whether
or not we have meals available: What would we
do without you? Your contribution to the mis
sion of the college is deeply appreciated. Many
mornings a smile from you has brightened my
day. Thank you.
To the President, Deans, and
Administrative Staff, thank you for never being
as intimidating as you look. Thank you for you
advice and support. Your leadership ensures that
the mission of St. Andrews is carried out. You
have earned the immense respect that I give you.
Graduation will be a very bittersweet
experience. I wish you all the best. I hope that
St. Andrews continues to educate people, change
lives, and teach people about themselves.
I encourage other members of the St.
Andrews community to express their feelings
about this institution. This paper is a forum for
the St. Andrews Community; make use of it!
A Letter Home from Iraq
This letter comes to us,
through the help of Professor
Prust, from Ryan Schulte, a
former student at St. Andrews
who left last semester after
being called up from the
Reserves and is currently sta
tioned in Iraq. Ryan was plan
ning to be a contributing
writer The Lance before he was
called up. The Lance, along
with Professor Prust and Ryan’s
friends wish to share this letter
with you in the hopes that you
will keep Ryan in your
thoughts and remember that
even though the fighting in
Iraq may be on the other side
of the globe, we are all affected
by it.
Emily Boomgarden
Editor in Chief
Dear Mr. Prust,
Well, I’m here. You know
they say that there are only two
places where the Joshua Tree is
located. One is California and the
other right outside the tent I’m stay
ing in. According to myth, one
place is the entrance of Heaven
while the other is the other end of
that divine spectrum. First I
thought California was the latter of
the two. Well, California is a dream
compared to this place.
I am currently about 25
miles from the Iraqi border in
Kuwait. This base which we are
located at is the final stop before we
“Cross the berm.” Right now we
are getting all of our supplies; beans,
bullets, and band-aids. Our final
location in Iraq, which has changed
more times than I care to count, is
about 15-20 miles outside ofTikrit.
Obviously one of the worst places to
be, unfortunately. We have been
assigned to the 1st Infantry Division
Combat Team. I can’t go into
specifics about our mission other
than it isn’t pretty. Just yesterday a
group of Marines left this base .
heading towards Baghdad and they
were “hit” pretty severely from what
I hear. We are going to take that
exact same route right through
Baghdad on up to our final destina
tion. So the mood here is
intense.
I am sure you watch the
news, but as I have learned, the
news only reports maybe a tenth of
what is happening over here. As
this situation stands right now, we
are no longer fighting Saddam’s
regime or republican guard, rather
we are facing off with the world’s
terrorists. The consensus here is
that as long as they come here to
fight us, they’ll meet us head first
and not the homeland. All this is
going on while we continue to train
Iraqi police and stabilize Iraq.
Around June is when the second
and final draft of the Iraqi constitu
tion is to take place. Many rumors
say that goal is unlikely to occur,
although we remain optimistic.
On the lighter side of mat
ters, it is only about 97_ during the
day and down in the 50's at night,
so the weather isn’t bad yet. The
food is awesome believe it or not.
The showers are nothing more than
a two minute douse of sulfiiric
water that absolutely stinks, and the
sand is able to get inside bodily ori
fices that I never knew existed. But
hey, life is good for now.
In these conditions, I can
say that those dorms over there look
Sgt. Ryan Schulte during combat traiing.
like paradise. I’m sure many stu
dents don’t even realize how nice it
really is there. I can’t wait, God
willing, when I get to return and
continue my education. By the
way, I have one of those practice
LSAT books here with me.
Obviously, time permitting. I’m
going to go through it with a fine
tooth comb.
Anyway, I just thought I’d
give a heads-up of my current situa
tion and say “Hi” to everyone there.
I do ask one thing though. It is a
pretty hard demand but the impor
tance of it towards my morale and
even sanity depends on it. I ask
that you and whoever is willing to
please write me letters. Just a quick
hello would do just fine. Those let
ters will help in keeping me tied to
a civilized world. Receiving mail
here is like receiving a gold bar. It’s
priceless. My mailing address is list
ed at the end of this letter.
Hopeftilly in time I will be able to
start sending email with pictures but
until them the good old postal serv
ice will have to do.
So, in conclusion to this let
ter, tell everyone that I said “Hey”, I
am doing good considering the cir
cumstances and to please pray for
my safe return along with those I
am serving with. I look forward to
seeing you when I return in or
around a year. Until then, please
write and write often.
Your student from Baghdad,
Ryan Schulte
Mailing Address:
Sgt. Schulte, Ryan J.
Bravo Battery 1/113FA, 1-4
CAV ISTID
Operation Iraqi Freedom
FOB, FT. McKenzie