Colorado Mesa University (CMU) has long battled with its sense of identity. Awhile back, the editorial board wrote an article titled “CMU is boring” that gave a controversial look at life on campus. While I think there were several important points made here, I want to take a look at the underlying cause as to why some of us feel that our campus is “boring” and what we can do to address it.
To be clear, I think CMU is interesting enough. Every week there are plenty of sporting events, shows and activities to attend. So, what are we lacking here then? Why, despite the abundance of activities, do we feel we have nothing to do?
The problem is an obvious one. We lack a definite campus culture.A culture is defined by the stories, traditions and history of the university. Our stories should be repeated by faculty throughout the student body and our traditions should be reflected in the signature ceremonies. A campus needs to echo our history throughout the hallways. We should be reminded every day what it means to be a Maverick.
But for me, I don’t know what that means.
I am unaware of any traditions we have or what the stories from our founders are. I attend some of the games, but I felt more school spirit at my high school than here. CMU doesn’t have a shortage of activities, but we do have a shortage of tradition.
We lack those big rivalry games that get us excited. We lack the long-established and historic events on campus that brings us together. We lack the knowledge of the historic stories that fuel our motivation and create a clear vision of being a Maverick.
What we need are more ideas that inspire and more spaces that bring us together.
It’s events like the Colorado State University’s Ram Welcome, where incoming students come together to sing the school fight song for the first time.
It’s the progressive thinking that Colorado University’s traditions app exhibits, where users earn points to attend the established events around campus.
It’s the improvements like the Campus Commons at the University of Northern Colorado, where individuals can come together through cozy fireplaces and dine at lovable pie cafés. It’s things like this that shape a community.
Grand Junction is my home and I don’t want to transfer schools. I just want to start the difficult conversation that we’ve been hesitant to acknowledge, that maybe we’re not doing as much for our students as we should be.
Now, it’s important to note that I’m speaking of the general campus culture. I realize there are several thriving subcultures such as the outdoor and the musical departments that may feel different. But I don’t want to join those groups to feel a sense of belonging. I want to feel as though I’m part of the entire community.
So, let’s go back to that previous line:
What we need are more ideas that inspire and more spaces that bring us together.
What I want is a better reason to stick around after class is over. Instead of building more dorms, we should be improving the space around us. We don’t need more students; we need more of a student presence. This is especially relevant as students begin to exit the dorms. Once the final move out day is complete, there is nothing left to keep us coming back.
I want to see more beautiful study spots and communal areas that this campus so desperately needs. Casual spots like these can bring a sense of belongingness that is missing within the general student body. If we can create a community, we can create a pattern of academic success along with it
I also want to see us be actively developing our own traditions. These are the things that future generations of students can look forward to. The FOMO (fear of missing out) in our student body is a characteristic that is needed.
Every student, no matter the year, should be excited to attend these “do not miss” activities. Take for example the previously mentioned Ram Weekend or Boulders Nearly Naked Mile.
I don’t want more events; I want more quintessential events. Obviously, this is easier said than done, but this is a crucial step in addressing the issues within our culture.
A change in culture cannot happen overnight, but by taking steps now, we can ensure a thriving campus community for future Mavericks. I dream of a place where every student can feel involved regardless of their participation within the university. It might be tough to face, but if we begin to address the issues we have today then we’ll be one step closer to a solution for tomorrow.
