From another perspective
Even though Georgia College & State University placed in Tier 2 in U.S. News & World Report’s America’s Best College rankings for the fourth year in a row, are the university’s efforts to satisfy their students complete?
For The Beat this week, I asked several students, “What is our campus missing?”
I was surprised no one answered ‘a football team.’ West Georgia and Valdosta State University spend loads of money each year on equipment, coaches’ salaries, maintenance of the football stadium and concession stand supplies. Since most students that attend these institutions go home every weekend, the universities don’t collect enough revenue to cover these expenses. Therefore, if we can’t get students to stay for basketball games, how can we get them to stay for football games?
Our campus also becomes empty each weekend. I know that
Milledgeville is a small town and may seem boring at times, but I know, you can find interesting things to occupy your time. At least we have a Wal-Mart! Trust me, there are smaller cities with less variety.
So what is missing? Interesting activities to entice students to stay on the weekend. Even when the weekend is jam-packed with sports activities, for example during basketball season, you’ll find less than 300 students sitting in the stands. That leaves many open seats in the audience. Our sports teams need our support and school spirit. I suggest staying a weekend and investigating how much fun Milledgeville can be. I am sure it’s more fun to hang out with your friends and fellow residents than it is to go home and see mom and dad. Now, don’t misunderstand me, I love my family and enjoy spending time with them. However, you are a college student, and you should get the full experience and stay around.
Our campus also needs more space for offices, parking and classrooms. A professor mentioned to me how hard it is reserve a classroom. All of the classrooms on campus appear to be booked for almost every class slot. GC&SU was forced to move offices for the history department out of Arts and Sciences last year, because they needed these offices for other professors. However, the old courthouse still sits empty in front of Bell. This building holds historical importance, meaning GC&SU only has the right by law to renovate it, but not change it. However, it could be renovated and used for office space.
When I was a freshman, there was a used bookstore where the Paw Prints Bookstore sits now. This bookstore offered the same materials at a cheaper price. GC&SU created a monopoly when it brought that store out. Students now wait in long lines to buy more expensive materials. What we need is a used bookstore.
I would also like to see more master’s degrees offered here. A master’s in mass communication is only offered at two universities in the state of Georgia. Currently, the mass communication department is not prepared to take on this task, but in the future, GC&SU should form a mass communication master’s program. In the meantime, I will have to pursue my master’s degree at the University of Georgia.
My co-workers would like a Krispy Kreme on campus. The Maxwell Student Union Cafeteria should also have vegetarian options for each meal. Being a vegetarian is a difficult task, and I admire any student who fulfills this task.
However, GC&SU has improved in many ways in the past two years. Students are finally getting an updated library. MSU looks better than ever. Does anyone remember the ramp? New residence halls and apartments will be added to our campus. Eventually our radio station, WGUR, will be larger than 10 watts, so all students, including commuters, can listen to it.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Sep 27 2002. Filed under Opinion.
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