By: Matthew Balsinger

Every year there is little to look forward to in the winter months. One of the most enjoyable annual activities, however, is the Akron Ice-Fest, where current and former students of the University showcase their ice carving skills.

Though these statues were made to represent pride in Akron, a few immature and deplorable students decided that it would be a good idea to destroy these works of art.

The ice sculptures were carved on Wednesday of last week, and in less than two days they were torn down. A few beautiful statues that were carved free-style and a statue of Zippy were almost completely destroyed by vandals. The only statue that stood on Friday without being touched was the annual Summit College ice chair.

College is supposed to be a time when students are practicing to be adults, so it’s curious to me why some students feel that it is perfectly reasonable to act as if they’re in high school.

Everyone remembers the immature things there are to do in high school: toilet papering houses, spray painting cars and destroying property for a quick laugh. The reason these vandalisms are often committed by teenagers is that people lack the maturity and experience to know how their actions may affect other people. The incredibly sad thing is that all too many at The University of Akron have yet to learn that crucial lesson of growing up.

Part of being an adult is understanding how your actions affect others, especially when it comes to your entertainment at the expense of another’s hard work. There is absolutely no excuse for destroying property that is not your own, not to mention destroying the work of others.

Of course, we shouldn’t allow the immaturity of a few reflect upon the University as a whole; however, there is a larger problem present. We as students must strive to be more mature in everything that we do.

Though we are all not guilty of something as drastic as tearing down sculptures, we all are guilty of immature things. We skip class, use cell phones and sleep during lectures, we don’t complete all of our responsibilities and we don’t study as much as we probably should. I know this from my own experience as well as talking to my friends and peers.

It is times like these — when the immaturity of others is exhibited — when we must step back and examine our own work. We need to create an environment that fosters and inspires us to be the best that we can in an environment where we struggle to prove that we deserve to be taken seriously. To the majority of students here who do this, you are a hero to this community. To those who do things such as tearing down ice sculptures, it’s time to grow up. If you’re not ready to grow up, you do not belong in college.