The St. Olaf campus has recently been exposed to countless signs and banners advertising the R.I.C.H. initiative that stands for respect, integrity, celebration, and honesty. Aside from its literal meaning however, what exactly does this program hope to accomplish?

A committee of students formed by Briea Euteneuer, head of the student governmentıs public relations committee, asked themselves this very question. It was the lack of an answer that prompted them to form a week around this idea.

Last week, as the kick of to the R.I.C.H. campaign, the committee challenged the campus to ask themselves this question as well. Where is the respect, integrity, celebration, and honesty that the campus claims to uphold?

Numerous events brought about this questioning. The semester has seen issues involving disrespect towards the Caf workers rear their ugly heads. Acts of discrimination regarding the offensively disfigured chalk drawings of Coming Out Week also sparked this renewed interest in the R.I.C.H. campaign.

The committee designated one day for each quality, beginning with respect on Tuesday and ending with honesty on Friday. Posters and quotes appeared in each of the dorms to stress each of these admirable qualities as the week passed.

A petition was also being passed throughout campus where signers pledged to uphold the meaning behind the campaign. The committee hopes that the week of publicity will help make students fulfill the initiatives of the anagram: respect, integrity, celebration, and honesty.