SCENE SPOTLIGHT
Who says you can't save the world? Senior political science major, Ellen Ritchie, certainly doesn't believe it's impossible. In fact, she is literally using her voice to contribute to the effort. Ritchie hosts a radio show every week on KSCU, entitled "Ethics in an Unethical World."
"Basically the show is a platform for critical discussion and debates about current events," Ritchie explained. "My hope is really to reach anyone that is interested in seriously engaging social and ethical issues, whether that be Santa Clara students or community members." Her topics run the gamut â€" ranging from the legalization of marijuana to the recent California recall.
All this is part of the political science major's involvement with the Hackworth fellowship program. Each year three seniors are selected by the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics (after being nominated by a professor) to plan programs and serve as a connection between the center and student body.
"Once selected, each fellow designs their own project based on their background and interests, and there is a lot of room for creativity and individuality," Ritchie described.
As one of these fellows, Ritchie hopes to have a great impact on the community through her radio show.
"My ultimate goal is to get students, faculty and staff thinking and talking about the social, political, and ethical issues that shape our community and our world. Ã I guess I just want to do my part to make Santa Clara feel more like an institution of higher learning and less like a country club."
Higher learning seems to take precedent in this Bay Area native's life, despite not having any concrete plans after college; she feels that a brief respite from her current surroundings might teach her a few things.
"I grew up in Alameda, which is just about 45 minutes north of here," she said. "I feel like I should leave the Bay Area for a while, just so I can be reminded of how lucky I am to live in a diverse and progressive area, but I think no matter where I go, I will eventually be back here."
In what little spare time she has, Ritchie regularly volunteers at the ACLU Immigrants Rights Project, keeping a foot in the political arena and various other hobbies. "I enjoy watching sad movies and having good conversations, I also like to laugh and cry with my housemates about the state of the world."
Tune into Ellen Ritchie's show, "Ethics in an Unethical World," airing on KSCU 103.3 FM every Monday at 5 p.m.
-Written by Christopher Da Costa