I turn right out of Espresso Royale and…oh crap! Did we make eye contact? I don’t think so. But still, you’re between me and COM, which means I will have to pass you. 

I put my headphones on, cross my arms (the universal symbol for “don’t bother me”) and duck my head down. If I keep the kid in the beanie between you and me, maybe we can pass without conversing. But no! Beanie Boy goes into Radio Shack. Ugh. We’ve made eye contact. I brace myself for the inevitable:

“Hey, do you have a minute for the environment?” Or, its pleasant alternative: “Do you have a minute to save the children?”

Most days, actually, I don’t. So I smile and apologize, but no, that’s not good enough. You ask me if I’m sure. And there’s a tone, sing-songy “I don’t believe you.” This is when I get annoyed. 

Yes I’m freaking sure! And I get it. I go to BU, which means there’s a good chance I fall into a certain socio-cultural demographic. The last time I checked, about half of BU’s students didn’t have any major financial aid. It’s the demographic that yes, could probably sponsor a starving child in Ethiopia or donate to Greenpeace or whatever I’m asked to do today. 

What I don’t quite understand is why a college campus, albeit an affluent one, is the prime stakeout for street-side humanitarian fundraising. Chances are, anyone who cares enough to donate money or even put their name on a mailing list has already done so for their chosen cause. 

A friend of mine has what he guarantees is a surefire way to make the forced interaction with the Do-Gooder as easy and painless as possible: pass by with a breezy “I’m already on your mailing list.” Even if that evokes a “Really?” response, by then you’ll be at least five or 10 steps ahead and out of the danger zone.

I know these Do-Gooders are getting paid for their services and with this economy, who am I to fault anyone for keeping a job, especially one with a good karma factor. What really irks me is that these Do-Gooders are always standing in the same place, the intersection of Comm. Ave. and St. Mary’s St. or on Marsh Plaza; they stand between my reasonably priced Fair Trade coffee and all of my academic responsibilities. It’s a frequent reminder that despite recycling most of what I buy, refilling a water bottle and drinking that Fair Trade coffee, there’s always more I could be doing to save the world. 

This makes me sound a little heartless, but I think the problem is that there’s just too much wrong with the world and too many people are trying to fix it. While that, in and of itself, is not a bad thing at all, it makes it really hard to choose where to donate what little money I have after rent and food (and booze) have been paid for. There’s medical research, public radio and television, social aid, environmental aid, not just in our country but for around the world. It’s daunting! 

But, not impossible. You just have to pick something you care about and stick to it. Maybe you’re working to make BU a greener campus with Slow Food BU, or you lined up 12 hours before Alternative Spring Break registration. BU has a very service active campus. If brushing off the Do-Gooders always brings a twinge of guilt, maybe peruse the BU Student Activities Office site and find something that interests you. Become a Do-Gooder yourself. It’s quite the karma boost.