Freshman life unexpectedly satisfying

By Christopher DaCoasta

As I gaze out into the sea of oscillating, maroon sweatshirts in Benson, I have to remind myself that I do not attend Delta Gamma University. For me, rush week not only brought melodramatic accounts of the Greek acceptance rate to my attention, but the realization that I am finally in college.

Does this mean I am destined to endure hearty prison-grade cafeteria meals and the new-and-improved 'large-scale-lecture' schemes for the next four years? After almost six months of university-level schooling, how has Santa Clara measured up to my expectations?

Back in the days when college was an escape from suburbia and bad cheerleaders, my primary criteria was college size. The gargantuan student populations in the University of California school system were definitely uninviting, and leaving sunny California for the frosty East coast was not an option. That is when Santa Clara University's lofty palm trees beckoned and I discovered an oasis in Mission-style form. Santa Clara boasted a distinguished faculty, stellar academics and small classes. After one visit, Santa Clara soon became my top choice and I drifted through the remainder of my senior year in a college-catalog-induced daze.

Preview days and summer orientation evoked images of an eerily happy and satisfied student body and overly optimistic expectations of wild, all-night, uninterrupted parties with an abundance of single girls. Unfortunately, those vivid fantasies were tragically shattered the Saturday of Welcome Weekend, when the Santa Clara Police (bless their hearts) broke up the class of 2005's first college party.

Despite the somewhat inhibited 'party culture' here at Santa Clara, my peers and I have built social lives by getting involved in Associated Students, sports and a host of other extra-curricular activities. There is no end to the involvement at Santa Clara, especially with those spirited tables in Benson luring in unsuspecting freshmen with promises of free T-shirts and/or candy. I was pleasantly surprised that, even with a challenging course load, any student could have time left over for clubs and various activities.

Actually, one of my new favorite pastimes involves the new "You've always wanted to be a restaurant critic. Here's your chance!" card -- well not really. These comment/suggestion cards sit next to the cashiers in Benson. I think it is great that the Bon Appétit Team is reaching out to us students, I mean they are braving the caustic tongues of college students to improve satisfaction. I can honestly state that I was not expecting such a considerate catering staff, and I was certainly not expecting the overall quality of Benson food to be so finger-licking good. Yeah sure, Benson has its off days but overall it is better than the 'authentic C-grade meat' dished out at some schools. We are lucky.

We are unlucky, however, with the current housing crunch. Guaranteed housing seems fleeting and slowly slipping away from upperclassmen's grips. With the proposed plan to incorporate Residential Learning Communities (RLC) into every level beyond freshmen next year, proves difficult for students to choose where exactly they will be living. This is an unexpected twist in the housing plans for the 2002-03 school year. There is undoubtedly a heavier emphasis on dorm living this quarter; I have often been restricted to the warm confines of my room due to the recent arctic-like weather. Yet, to my severe annoyance, there is no middle ground, as my heater is permanently stuck on high, blasting extremely unhealthy tropic temperatures.

Finally, being in college means no more weird guidance counselors or prom limousine fiascos, but instead, a profound educational experience, devoid of eenage superficialities. Santa Clara has often exceeded my expectations and left me wanting more.

Initially, I stepped onto campus expecting a somewhat typical college experience. There is nothing typical about Santa Clara. I take pride in our school's uniqueness, and have even accepted the Greek system as it is - or perhaps, is not. Santa Clara has plenty to offer and prison-grade food is not one of them.