My job has been incredibly busy this week. Students are returning, and my department is in the thick of Welcome Week activities. Basically for me that means 50 or so hours (my contract is for 20) and about twice the level of activity during those hours as a normal week.
I do think these events are worth it and I do think it’s important to connect students to the campus as quickly as possible, a big reason why Welcome Week was created to begin with.
Being here has really been an opportunity to reflect on my undergrad experience. I love my alma mater dearly and I contributed a lot to that campus while I was there, both in my time commitments and hopefully in the impact I made by being there. But I can’t help but think that it could have been so much more.
This is not a new thought for me. One thing that I often talked to my closest confidants about while I was at Campbell was how I felt that we, as a school/campus, rarely took advantage of all the things that made Campbell great. Many things were done halfheartedly or out of rote repetition. And we rarely embraced all of the things that made Campbell different.
It seemed as if the administration’s ultimate goal was to either keep Campbell exactly the same or to make it so completely different as to make it unrecognizable. I never understood this philosophy and still don’t.
I know that many students give to their alma mater in abundance and I think that’s a beautiful thing. But I gave so much of my time, invested gladly and for free. And I’ve never seen a thank you or even an acknowledgement of my existence. Moreover, it seems that there would be some effort to connect people who have been student leaders to the college after they leave. These people would be the most strident supporters of the university, if nothing else. But again, no effort is made other than hiring a few of them to be low wage admissions representatives.
It’s because of this that I plan on never giving a dime to Campbell University. I still love the school and wear my alumni colors proudly. But I can’t foresee a circumstance under which the university will reach out to me, a former Student Body President. So in turn, I can’t foresee any circumstance under which I will want to give them any more money or time.
And that’s a little sad to me.
me too brother, and by the way…thank you.
My thoughts exactly!!!!! Ditto to all!!!
amen.
however, i CAN foresee a time where they might remember i was a student body president: if i ever start making TONS of (publicized) money or if i spoke out against them publicly (with clout) because then they would recognize and ban. but they certainly won’t recognize it enough to send me a ticket to the first football game next week, even though i announced the return of the program. you know, the little things they could do to go a long way.
bu hey, i’m with you – i love me some campbell university. i am forever committed to the abusive relationship.
and i bought my little football ticket (and tailgating parking space complete with registration form).
PS – i miss you TM Newell! i don’t know how i’m making it through life without your counseling!!
Humm, this may be enlightening and don’t hear often. Thanks for great info.