OUR VIEW: Give a little bit to absolve debts

Give a couple cans, get a debt forgiven.

No, the IRS hasn’t grown a heart and decided to give U.S. taxpayers a break. Wouldn’t that be nice? But the Merrill-Cazier Library on campus does have a heart and a bit of Christmas cheer. Their generous offer is simple: donate at least two nonperishable food items and have up to $5 in fines, with a maximum of $20, waived.

Yep, that fine you accrued from returning that annoying history book two weeks late can be waived by donating a little food. What’s more, the library will turn around and donate your donation to the Cache Community Food Pantry to assist those less fortunate during the holiday season.

This is an effort to be applauded for many reasons. Food drives are common but not any less important because of their regularity. Hunger is still prevalent, even in Logan. When you open your pantry and find only cans of chicken noodle soup or Top Ramen, it’s easy to think you don’t have a lot, but there are many who would appreciate that food. As college students, we sometimes wonder what people are talking about when they speak of the less fortunate – come on, we’re poor ourselves. But truthfully, we are pretty blessed. Most of us have something to eat and could afford to donate a few cans.

Perhaps the best part of this whole deal is the generosity of the library to let us “less fortunate” college students off the hook by waiving fines. Where else do you get a break like this? It’s the closest thing to a Monopoly “Get out of Jail Free” card. It’s what Christmas is all about, extending a helping hand and spreading joy.

Maybe other organizations on campus could pick up on the example of the library. Imagine if the parking office waived all the parking tickets. Why, that would be the closest thing to the Sabbatical Year celebrated by the Jews in the Old Testament. It would likely be the largest mass forgiving of debt in school history as students could tear up the yellow parking envelopes and shout for joy.

Once upon a time, the parking office actually did this. Why not bring it back? Isn’t Christmas all about peace on Earth, good will toward men? There’s not too much good will when it comes to parking tickets and students could sure use a break.

Either way, the efforts by the library are much appreciated by students and the hungered alike.