Note: I planned on simply writing another little rant about attending university, but it became something much different (and something much more positive). 

In T-minus five days, I’ll be packing up the Xterra and heading to the windy, wide-open plains of the South Park Basin, hiding from the world in a friend’s cabin, completely disconnected from the internet and cell-service. It’ll be a much-needed break from the insanity that’s been my first semester at university; a long-desired reprieve from the torturous city life. 

Ok, some may call me a bit dramatic for calling the city life “torturous”, but I honestly don’t know how else to explain what this semester has felt like. I haven’t been going to school out of passion or excitement for learning. Frankly, I’ve been going to university in spite of my passion/excitement for learning. After all, I see undergrad as a series of boxes to check, instead of something that’s genuinely preparing me for a career in science. That feels especially true now, given the current state of the country. 

As usual, I still hate politics. I hate culture war bullshit. I despise the government in general. But, I’ve come to hate that shit even more (somehow) this semester, largely because I feel like the only sane human in a sea of insanity coming from all sides of the political world. 

Since the right wing’s comfortably in charge of the government, I’ll pick on them first. 

Trump’s been gutting university funding like it’s a trout ever since he got into office (which was exactly 24 hours before I stepped foot on campus as a student for the first time). Apparently, he claimed it was because universities were “dangerously woke” and putting millions of dollars towards “transgender mice”. 

While it’s true that roughly $8,000,000 were put towards what Trump called “transgender mice”, not only would I argue those are reasonable medical studies to conduct given how many adults identify as transgender (roughly 1% of the population, or 2.3 million adults). But it’s sure as hell not an excuse to take an ICBM to lifesaving science research. Y’know, the very research that has enabled me to go to university in the first place. 

On top of that, the Trump administration’s set its sights on University of Colorado, Colorado Springs for apparent “racial discrimination”. A couple years back, CU Denver was accused of being discriminatory against white and asian students by the Equal Protection Project, which is a conservative law firm. And that complaint is still active according to their website. 

That said, I’m not at all surprised by the republicans’ actions against academia (or the government as a whole). I don’t commend it in any way, shape, or form, but I can see why Trump, and perhaps the majority of voting Americans, may “have it out” for the universities and government institutions. University is just easier to go after than government, which is why they’re getting gutted like a trout first. 

The question is now, "Why is this happening?"

From what I’ve gathered from conservative family members who’ve relentlessly teased me for going to a “liberal indoctrination center”, there seems to be a general disdain for “intellectuals” (AKA arrogant academics) among people who feel completely unheard and left behind in this country. Also, I will admit that far too many academics tend to “talk down to” people, rather than talk to them as intelligent individuals. Now, that’s really biting them (or, more accurately, us) in the ass. 

As much as I like to joke about how stupid people are, those are largely just jokes. On a more serious note, everyone does stupid shit all the time, but nobody is actually stupid. 

Everyone is capable of learning really complex things, no matter who they are or where they are from. Every person you run into knows at least one thing you know nothing about!

In fact, I’d argue that most conspiracy theorists are incredibly intelligent. They’re just going through hell, financially, spiritually, physically, etc, and have little to no social life to keep them from sliding off the cliff.  

However, far too many academics fail to realize this, let alone utilize this knowledge to help people that seem “too stupid” and/or “too bullheaded” to understand science, or anything that’s being taught in universities these days. And those academics (and the universities they’re part of) aren’t exactly quiet about their disdain for the average Joe (here’s just a couple articles that help to illustrate my point). 

Hell, as a university student myself, I’ve experienced this “academic elitism” first-hand, several times. And, it’s probably a big reason why I feel so… alone… on campus, to put it lightly. 

It’s also a big reason why I’m afraid to continue my journey as a student; why I’m often tempted to drop out of university altogether and pursue something else. 

Truth is, I’m terribly afraid of becoming a stereotypical, out-of-touch academic. I’m especially worried about that because, if I’m going to be a scientist, I want to be able to use my skills as a writer to teach science to the “average Joe”, which includes my beloved conservative, rural family members. 

Beyond that, my mom’s been “going after” the government for quite some time, now. Recently, Colorado’s minority leader of the legislature, Rose Pugliese, put fourth a “Right to Try” bill, basically asking Colorado to allow patients to try experimental drugs if they’ve exhausted all other options. She did this specifically because of my story.

Indeed, with my mom’s help, I shared my story about using an experimental Phage Virus Therapy to combat a severe Pseudomonas infection in order to push for a “Right to Try” bill in Colorado, and Rose agreed to help us (well… mostly my mom) to make this bill a law because of my story. 

Getting that done required me to bury my hatchet with the government for a bit and write them a heartfelt letter, explaining, in detail, what happened; why I had to travel to Oregon to snort up Russian Phage viruses to save my own life. 

I didn’t go stand outside the Capitol with a sign excoriating the government. I didn’t lob insults and “fuck you’s” to politicians as they walked into work. I didn’t call them “evil” or “stupid” if they didn’t support my bill. 

I didn’t do anything except write a short letter, attach a picture I took of a Muley doe from the valley onto it, and ask my mom to deliver it to the government. That simple letter (which I barely even half-assed) got a ball rolling I never thought could even get rolling during the Biden presidency via a democrat, let alone the Trump presidency via a republican. 

But, it turns out, when people stop screeching and snapping like packs of rabid raptors, and show each other a little kindness, respect, and empathy, amazing things happen.