On a typical morning going to class prior to this fall, the campus was quiet. Students were doing their own thing, and there wasn’t much commotion on campus until lunchtime. Now that the university has admitted freshmen and sophomores, the social dynamic on campus has changed tremendously.
Campus life no longer begins at lunchtime—it begins around 8 a.m.
The first inkling came when those staffing the Ambassadors Table could no longer take their time setting up on the first day. Since the freshmen had no prior experience with E-Services and Blackboard, they were eager to meet with ambassadors and get help.
This eagerness to be part of campus life has been evident at various student activities.
Wednesdays bring the Patio Café an abundance of blue and green, as interest in school spirit has become more prominent with the wave of new Hawks. The Bayou Building has seen student musicians strumming their guitars in front of the book store when it’s too hot to be outside. When the weather is nicer, the Alumni Plaza has seen skateboarders glide between buildings as they try to master a new trick. In the evenings and on Fridays, the Student Life Lounge has seen an increase in students hanging out and playing Ping-Pong.
Within the first three weeks of this first semester, there has definitely been a change. Hopefully, in the long-term, maybe even within the next year, the freshmen’s enthusiasm will translate into social clubs. Particularly, more special interest clubs such as Unity or P.A.V.E. that include dealing with more social issues as well as academic support. Since the students will be here all four years, maybe there won’t be as much student turnover in social clubs and more attention will be paid to programs on campus. For example, our university’s Recycling Program could use more attention with global warming being a current hot topic.
While I know we all miss our guaranteed close parking spots and shorter lines, we need to acknowledge that having freshmen and sophomores on campus will allow our university to grow in more ways than just numbers. When I was a freshman and sophomore, I was an officer of at least four different clubs. My junior year on campus, I was an officer of one club. Now in my senior year, I mostly float around helping clubs with events. I am developing a disease called “senioritis.”
It’s common among seniors, and if not cared for properly, it can result in a later graduation date. After two years, and often more, we get burnt out and try to channel what is left of our energy into our jobs and homework. There are some juniors and seniors who remain active in every way possible, but it is not the case for all of us. I often forget that Wednesday is spirit day. I don’t have the urge to hang out in the Student Lounge and play pingpong. I have work, class and homework, and when I’m not doing that, I want to hang out with my family and the close friends I hardly have a chance to see.
Freshmen and sophomores are trying to get away from their home life as they search for their individuality through social clubs and social issues. A lot of them have the enthusiasm and the time to show their school spirit and be pro-active on campus.
Well, that’s what I was like when I was a freshman.
Having freshmen and sophomores will allow the university more time to root the connectedness of school spirit that lasts through generations. Until then, we can have some fun watching the freshmen freak out as they evolve into successful students and amazing leaders just as we did.
