This weekend, you will most likely be reminded of your Oberlin experience — pizza night at Tank, cold beers at TGIF and the Organ Pump. Walking by King, you will think of that wonderful government course that inspired you to pursue a career in politics; walking past Wilder, you will think of how your time in the steel drum band and the Oberlin Peace Activists League helped you discover your passions outside the classroom and the “Oberlin bubble.”

These traditions made you love your time at Oberlin, and were important enough to you that if they were at risk of disappearing, you would have fought to keep them. As Obies, you were activists for what you believed in and conscious of what it takes to keep the College intellectually stimulating, socially aware and fun.

Today, current students and faculty are seeing that these traditions are in jeopardy. Even though you are no longer a student here, and even though you may not serve as an active member of an alumni committee, you still can be the activist you were back in the day. You can play a role in securing for the next generation of Obies the wonderful experiences that you still hold dear.

This year, financial constraints continued to impact the quality of education in the College. Although we saw the advent of an introductory Arabic language course with two full sections, students are still without an established Middle Eastern and North African Studies department. In the Conservatory, the plan to move the Music Education program into the greater Master’s Program was also met with concerns; in November, the Review reported that, in a survey conducted among 27 current music majors, nearly half stated that they would not have attended Oberlin if a Bachelor’s of Music in music education had not been an option.

Monetary concerns also infringed upon student activities. Unlike in past years, community service trips over school breaks did not receive funding, despite their value in helping to alleviate troubled regions of the world. Students also felt the pinch when it came to funding their organizations; the SPACE committee just this year received financial support for an additional student performance space after years of efforts. Students must have additional resources available to them in order to perpetuate the College’s vibrant and diverse community beyond the walls of Peters and Severence.

Students have also come to question the importance of their voices in decisions central to their education. In a closed search process, Marvin Krislov was announced as Oberlin’s fourteenth president and students are now left to face the results of the appointment of a leader of whom they had no chance to form an opinion. In addition, Oberlin began its “fearless” campaign to the bewilderment of many students who wondered if they were, in fact, fearless, and what that one word has to do with the Oberlin experience.

Alumni, we need your help. Many of the problems that we have faced this year can be directly related to monetary issues. Contributions to the Oberlin Fund — which, unlike the endowment, can be immediately utilized in areas such as scholarships — could greatly alleviate some of our troubles. If you see a certain area of need, donate to that area. You can also voice your concerns to the administration by writing letters to the Review and other campus publications and by continuing to be active at Oberlin even after you are gone.

So enjoy your weekend and think back fondly on your memories here, but remember that your Oberlin experience does not end when you graduate. Remember that you are now in the position to give back to the alma mater that gave so much to you. Remember those of us still here, and the battles we still fight.