By Ernesto Castorena
Conversations about the “death of campus culture” are becoming more relevant across SUNY Plattsburgh, especially after the breakout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The idea of community means something different to every student. As seasonal depression comes knocking and it gets too cold to hang around inside shared spaces across campus, is the sense of community and campus culture dying?
For many students, the culture is present, but needs to be nurtured.
Dawson Niles, an on-campus student, describes campus life as “active but quiet.” During the week he said the campus feels centered on academics with little activity outside the classroom. He hopes to see more weekday events that bring students together.
“There’s a club for everybody,” Niles said. “It’s just a matter of what you do to put yourself in those situations.”
Community exists on campus, but engagement takes effort and a willingness to show up.
Taylor Miner, an officer for the History Association, describes campus life as very eventful, but promoting events can be difficult.
“When you’re putting together an event, it’s lowkey difficult to get the word out,” Miner said.
She believes clearer communication and easier access to event information would help more students find the communities already around them. She also said inclusion depends on encouraging people to step out of their comfort zones.
“People will be accepting of you and people do want to see you out and about,” Miner said.
Julianna McNeillie is a sophomore living off-campus and says her first semester was stressful as she tried to find her place. She described the environment as lively, but simultaneously dull and depressing.
McNeille believes a more welcoming and cohesive campus design could help students feel more energized and connected. McNeille also points out that there are barely any campus wide events as opposed to club and SA events as she hopes for a frequent rally.
Yvonne Carroll, a freshman student who lives on campus, said “If we had football, a lot of people would be active.”
Campus culture isn’t dead, and it certainly isn’t hibernating. The students and their experiences suggest that connection still exists, but it just looks different. Shaped by effort, timing and the willingness to put yourself out there and find it.
