Campus face changing
By Editorial
On Monday, Santa Clara kicked-off fall quarter with an all day party that should have made any student proud: a community mass, a free all school barbecue, a celebrity appearance at Convocation and a free concert hosted that night. It was a day of Santa Clara celebration.
But with so many changes to our campus, both physically and in terms of student character, are we celebrating the tradition of Santa Clara or ushering in a new era? Has the face of our university changed?
The most obvious recent change to campus is the gaping hole that sits where the old library used to stand. That hole alone will account for a very different freshman experience. Gone, temporarily, are the days when students would peruse the shelves for research without giving a thought to where they would find a seat to read them.
Students will now have to split their time finding their books at the interim library and walking over to Nobili Hall to study in the former Jesuit community.
Another structural change may have a subtle social impact. The expansion of Mission Bakery and the extension of Bronco dining hours adopted to accommodate the run-off of students from Market Square will divide campus dining between three locations. Market Square has always served as a common social ground for on-campus students, but now the masses will be parted. The plus side: more choices.
More freshmen also means bigger parties. Those who frequent the social scene off-campus know this and are either hungrily awaiting the first weekend back or dreading the unprecedented number students on the streets -- and the 10 minute waits for a full keg cup.
They may make the wait at the keg longer, but these freshmen could also be smarter than those in past years. Admissions has said there is an increase in academically competitive applicants, and this year was no exception. Perhaps this year's class and others to come will spend more time studying and less time at the keg.
It is difficult to say to what degree this year's average freshman experience will differ from those of years past. With such a large class, getting lost in the sea of students may become easier, but it shouldn't mean students can't make a difference.
It should become easier for new clubs to meet the 15-member requirement, which could lead to additional opportunities for students to find their niche.
When this year's freshmen class reaches its final year, they will be looking at a very different university than the one the current senior class sees today.
What shape this campus takes is up to you. Join an organization. Start a club. Protest for change. Write a letter to the editor. Leave an imprint on the face of Santa Clara.