Power and responsibility should never be separated in our minds because, as Spiderman says, "With great power comes great responsibility." While just a fictional superhero, Spiderman makes a valid point and one that should not fall on deaf ears. We, as individual students, have a certain amount of power, but we as a united community have exponentially more. And greater yet is the power the university, as a social institution, holds over all of society.

The university works as an amazing social institution. There is a small city moving about each day when classes are in. And after classes end, a significant community still dwells here through the night in the residence halls. Therefore, because such a number exists, a certain power also exists.

Power is interesting because it affects things whether we want it to or not. The best we can do is harness our power and use it for constructive purposes; however, this is almost never done without a spirit of intentionality.

Intentionality, in this case, means examining even the most mundane aspects of our lives because the mundane aspects of 23,000 people's lives can have a HUGE impact on the not-so-mundane aspects of millions of lives.

The choices we make in what we eat and drink, what we wear, what we purchase and what worldview we create will all affect many people, MOST of whom we'll never meet. Yet, if we are to consider ourselves even the least bit loving, we must form our lives in a manner that remembers those we have yet to encounter.

One of the ways that the spirit of intentionality is manifesting itself currently is through Late Night Christian Fellowship and Coalition for a Humane And New Global Economy's efforts to end free trade coffee on campus in favor of fair trade coffee. Why? Because multitudes of people, whom we haven't met, are truly and genuinely affected by our decisions on what wakes us up in the morning or aids us in studying late. Currently the coffee prices fluctuate so greatly many coffee farmers aren't making enough to cover the costs of production and are ending up in hopeless debt.

Worse yet, it is not just the necessary economics of a free market that is driving coffee prices up; it is greed. Greed is what happens when we don't intentionally harness our power but rather live for the best of ourselves. A cup of coffee costs around $1.30. A pound of coffee makes 40 cups. Therefore, a pound of coffee yields $52. However, coffee farmers are only paid 30 to 60 cents a pound for their product. I am not ignorant to economics. I understand overhead and other business expenses, but this is unjust.

This week, April 7 through April 15, is Fair Trade Coffee Week. This is your opportunity to recognize your power, individually and collectively, and make a decision that helps those who need. Sign the petitions that are in the Student Center, and pledge to drink only fair trade coffee for this time period (or longer if you deem it responsible). Come hear Tadesse Meskela, a man who has recognized his responsibility and is working to get coffee farmers economic justice through his cooperative, speak on Tuesday April 15 in room 137 Bowman Hall at 7:30 p.m.

Finally, remember that your decisions affect people you've never met.

Jeff Schooley is a junior English major and a guest columnist for the Daily Kent Stater.