I’ve been around this campus for more than 11 years and watched it grow tremendously.
Gone is the parking lot that splayed out between the CAC and Davis, an environmentally friendly building in its place. The CAC where I used to play marbles with my little brother while my dad was working is closed, sitting idly before being renovated and renamed. The university police were relocated to make room for RHO. The parking garage was erected and FCT was constructed (then renamed PRW).
But in the time I’ve spent here, the greatest change I’ve noticed is one that most students who come in for two or four years at a time wouldn’t.
This campus has lost its sense of community. Sure, it’s gained independence and a few buildings. Yeah, it has a few hundred more students and will soon have a meal plan. But where is the unity, the involvement? Where is the camaraderie among students, professors and administration?
Raised by the man with the gray ponytail and white goatee who reserves and sets up internal events on campus, I’ve sat through an untold number of events at this school, and I can tell that participation is dwindling.
Celebrations and school functions are not what they used to be.
Back in the CAC, there were pictures that hung of all former Student Government presidents. Many were in their mid- to late-20s at their time of presidency. There were at least three I remember playing four-square marbles and pool with when I was younger. I knew all their names and they chatted with me while they worked. These days, I only know names of those in club leadership positions because I work for this paper.
A few times throughout the year, journalists from different countries come to visit the campus and there are usually discussions held that are open to the student body. It could just be my interest in journalism, foreigners or merely my loyalty to the school and the program I am part of, but I enjoy attending such events. But every time I go, I find I’m one of the few who bothered and always feel let down by my professors and classmates.
So I ask all of you: what is going on? Are you afraid? Do you just not care? What would it take to get more campus involvement in school events? This includes clubs, voting in Student Government elections and attending the meetings, joining awesome groups like The Crow’s Nest, going to Harborside’s movie nights, visiting the super cool garden behind the Piano Man Building and just plain getting involved.
I’m 22 years old and will be graduating in May. Before I go, I’d like to see a little bit of the kind of unity, cooperation and community involvement that I knew back when I was 9. This is my call to action.
Apathy begets apathy. I too have been here for a while – nearly 6 years come this May. In my opinion, we evolved from a commuter college directly into a residential and, what some would consider, a more traditional college without any transition period (RHO and I started college at USF the same year).
The only tradition to be passed on was that of a commuter’s mindset. This isn’t a necessarily a bad thing, but in terms of a community rather than commuter’s campus, it means a lot. Having worked at the Waterfront I’ve seen our amenities barely used by the masses. And without further research even heard that Clubs and Organizations can no longer “cook” food for students; student must cook their own food due to new or previously unknown policy. I guess no more BB-Q club…
But you question is an important one; one that as seniors, we should ask to every underclassman we know. We can’t be resources anymore, but we can at least try and show them the possibilities of helping to create the a generation of strong USFSP tradition.
So here’s to you, underclassmen: Turn down that dubstep music, get off my lawn and get involved.
/grumpy old senior rant.
I’ve got to say I feel the same way about attending events on campus. To me they sound interesting and a cool thing to do, particularly when it has to do with my major or interests. I’m always disappointed that so many people can’t be bothered.
Nicely done! Now, let’s see some school spirit and more kids gathering for free stuff and having fun. That is what college is about, right? Props to you.