Social Responsibility and the College Student

¶ … college education, learning and practicing the social responsibility and the significance of inculcating a strong sense of social responsibility in college students. Man's main task in life is to give birth to himself, to become what he potentially is. The most important product of his effort is his own personality"- Erich Fromm. This personality is shaped and refined through the enlightenment gained through education, personal experiences and personal efforts to ameliorate one's personality by tapping the dormant talent and by adhering to the learned moral and social values.

In order to keep our values intact for the rest of our lives and to become what we potentially are education is a must, for mentors at all levels inculcate a strong sense of discipline and responsibility in the college-going students, qualities that facilitate them in being productive and successful citizens.

Where educational institutions fulfill their social responsibility by providing various facilities and highly qualified teachers to the students, similarly, it is the duty of utmost importance, of the students to shoulder their social as well as moral responsibilities as an integral part of the academic institution in particular and as a dutiful citizen in general.

Like in colleges, students are given absolute liberty of association with the choice of their own communities and unions, freedom of expression and inquiry and access to all the learning-oriented facilities, it is the social responsibility coupled with moral righteousness of every student to not only obey all the rules and regulations as put forth by the school's management and to contribute constructively towards the shared interests but also to fulfill all the responsibilities that go into the making of a productive nation and a healthy society.

When schools give them the freedom to join any community, organization or union for their own betterment in order to provide them with a sense of security and combined support, it is the social responsibility of the students not to misuse their authority by going against the interest of either the school of the other unions working under the same roof (Vaughn, 1999).

Commitment to these unions and student service bodies fosters greater sense of responsibility towards other fellow students and peers by increasing social interaction among various existing departments and augmenting a sense of connection with others around, which facilitates students to become better and socially responsible citizens (Vaughn, 1999). Furthermore, it is the social as well as moral responsibility of a student to make sure that all the graduation requirements are met.

It is a moral responsibility because without completing the essentials, how can a student claim the degree and from the sociological point-of-view, if students without the adequate qualifications enter the professional world where they would be doctors and engineers, the entire nation can suffer at the hands of irresponsible individuals. Moreover, the social responsibility of a student includes "democratic participation" (Vaughn, 1999) in public service organizations in order to facilitate the development of healthy, social trends.

In addition to the above, basic responsibilities of a student must include: following college rules, regulations, policies, procedures, mission and the standard conduct by paying equal respect to the fellow students irrespective of their color, race and breed, safeguarding the property belonging to other students and practicing on-campus as well as off-campus community standards.

It is the social responsibility of a student to adhere to the honest means of stepping on the success ladder meaning that no student should ever think of obtaining fame, success or fulfilling other desires through unlawful means. Like wise, the students must consider it their responsibility to clear all dues before leaving the academic institution for good and learn to abhor and abstain from wrongful acts like plagiarism.

Additionally, students must resolve all issues, both academic and non-academic involving disciplinary action, student services, personal records, sexual harassment, discrimination and other grievances, through peaceful negotiations. However, the more important social responsibilities are, the less their demonstration is at both college and professional levels. Equipping students with sound social values is one of the greatest challenges faced by the teachers today. Inculcating Social Responsibility: A Challenge for the Academia Extensive research suggests that the number of college-going students with personality problems is alarmingly increasing.

Today more than ever, the American college presidents and concerned teachers are hunting down ways to handle the problematic, disastrous and augmenting "alcohol-and-substance abuse, date rape, cheating" (Clayton, 1999) and other personality and health related social problems. Hence, "the most fundamental challenge facing colleges and universities today is developing conscience, character, citizenship and social responsibility in their students" (Clayton, 1999).

The only possible solution to the aforementioned problems is the education of civic and social responsibility among the college students who represent the future of every nation for academic institutions have been trying desperately to nurture moral values but so far all efforts have ended up in fiasco as far as student's problems have been attempted to solve through inculcating a sense of moral commitment in them (Clayton, 1999).

The reason why educational institutions are considered to be the ideal learning places for students to know the importance of being socially aware of their rights as well as their duties is the fact that education is, in the words of Socrates: "the conversion of the soul, in the readiest way; not to put the power of sight into the soul's eye, which already has it, but to ensure that, instead of looking in the wrong direction, it is turned the way it ought to be" (Arawi, 2002).

Hence, from the above definition it is apparent that education is not only a form of communication and instructions.