End the divisive behaviors on campus

Dear Editor,

This spring was my first term here at Orange Coast College. I’m a 32-year-old military combat veteran, a former white-collar professional, and now a freshman who recently decided that he needed a massive career change. Consequently, I chose the best two-year college in the area, and arguably the second best in the nation.

While the academic quality of OCC shines vibrantly and I remain confident that I made the right institutional choice, I was unfortunately quickly presented with the tense political atmosphere of the school. This was, to put it lightly, discouraging.

In short, and maybe this is my age talking, but the amount of avoidable, disrespectful and outright childish events and behavior that have taken place over the previous few months on behalf of a select few students greatly diminishes our school’s reputation and serves as nothing more than an unnecessary distraction for the majority of us who are here to maximize our educational experience and potential.

I hope as this semester ends and we move into the summer and fall that we all can let go of whatever divisiveness this session has brought about. I anticipate that we can progress together, regardless of our differences, with benevolence and compassion, and without the baseless indignation that some have been so eager to carry.

It’s time for us to regain our focus on our education and in strengthening our academia through understanding, resolve and unification.

I look forward to learning and growing with you all next semester.

—Joshua Dayhoff, Student