I'm With Blair

Before I start writing, I'll say that if you scroll down, you'll find a post about commuting students that has no author.  That's Blair Burke, our esteemed design editor.  There's no author attached because we're all still learning this blogging system, and we're probably all going to make mistakes (mine probably much bigger than forgetting my name) for a while.

Blair's pretty much right on with her post, though, and I'm tempted to just quote some of it, but I won't. 

I've lived off campus my entire tenure at Wofford.  I'm from Spartanburg, and despite the fact that I knew Wofford was something like 99.44% residents, I decided I'd live at home.  Not a terrible drive, though certainly not always fun, and while I love being able to get away from how this school often makes me feel, it can definitely be an inconvenience if there's something on campus I want to attend or a friend I want to hang out with or whatever.  I'm still not sure the pluses outweigh the minuses, but maybe I'll reflect on that over the next few years and come back as a special guest blogger and give you my thoughts.

Typically, the worst part about telling people I don't live on campus is the look I  receive.  It's a look that's a cross between, "I just heard your grandmother has cancer" and "I'm sorry, sir, but you have cancer."  Those of us who didn't want to live in the dorms are other, and that can be kind of distressing. 

I'm not above putting partial blame on the college, though.  At freshman orientation, we're treated as other, with a lot of emphasis on bonding the hallways and very little, if any, emphasis on incorporating us.  We're left to our own devices, forced to find our way around campus, not receiving basic information that others receive.  I'm talking things like meal plans. 

Of course, parking is an issue for everyone, but it often feels amplified for those of us who have to have it every day.  It doesn't really seem fair that someone who drives his car once a month gets a prime space to sit in while I have to park so far out that I'm breaking a sweat by the time I make it to class. 

I'm not taking any blame away from myself.  I knew that living at home would be somewhat isolating, and I'm perfectly fine with that.  But I think that the college ought to make a better effort to include those who don't adhere to the traditional Wofford type (and yes, this goes beyond just living arrangements), or else it needs to seriously stop patting itself on the back for, well, everything. 

Comments

[Jo Ann]

Wow, Drew! I had no idea you felt that way, and I'm sure I probably gave you one of those looks when I found out. You spend enough time in the OG&B room to be considered a resident.