Hard pill to swallow

We have all heard complaints of Eastern: It’s too small, it’s boring, there’s not enough to do, the people are weird, the construction is annoying, etc. Perhaps we sometimes even make these complaints ourselves, I know I have. A frequently occurring thorn in the side of the Eastern is the low retention rate–we all know friends who have transferred away to find greener pastures. But there seems to be a worrying trend I’ve observed, wherein there’s a lot of complaining and not a lot of showing up to make positive change. For example, many who complain about how boring Eastern is decide to go home every single weekend. It is a self-fulfilling prophecy, then–you believe Eastern to be boring on the weekend, you leave, and then campus becomes more boring because there are less people around on weekends excited to have fun.

I don’t want to sound like a frustrated elderly person, wagging their finger at the youth and admonishing them for complaining when they need to get up and work. That is not my intention here. It is not easy to make change, and I sympathize with those who are fed up. What is easy, is complaining about the changes that need to occur (and there are many, I know). And so, we can be tempted to sit around and complain about Eastern as an institution rather than being part of the solution. Misery loves company. It may actually be an easier way to bond, to make friends, to share in a common negative experience: “Ugh, the mold problems in Eagle are ridiculous,” “Can you believe all the construction around campus?” or “This parking situation sucks!” But is this real bonding? Will these superficial friendships based around negativity be the lifelong friends that you form in college? 

I believe that the best college experiences and friendships are formed by getting out of your comfort zone and doing something. By forming bonds based upon mutual collaboration and creativity–how can we make this better for ourselves? What can we do to have fun that doesn’t involve sitting around on our phones or getting into trouble? These are the questions that lead to intimate and authentic lifelong friendships. We have lost what fun looks like. Maybe that looks like playing cards together in Zime. Maybe it looks like coming up with an idea for an event and taking it to student government. Maybe it looks like getting off the soul-sucking rectangle of isolation constantly in our pockets and showing up to brick and mortar buildings to touch flesh and blood human beings. Maybe if you feel Eastern has a problem with recycling, or parking or a professor is really inadequate, you could voice this and work to be a part of fixing it. Outraged about a change on campus? Chances are, others are too. Talk to each other. Look up off the ground when you walk. Smile at people. This is our community for four years–let’s start acting like it. 

I believe that Eastern, shortcomings and all, is an incredible place. Here are some of the things that I love about Eastern: the beauty of our campus is incomparable to any other college campus I’ve seen. We might be one of the only explicitly Christian institutions in the nation that historically and presently hold faith and practice in the same breath, genuinely striving to practice what we preach and finding authenticity in religion. We have phenomenal ecumenical diversity–I have met people who belong to Orthodoxy, Catholicism and myriad forms of the Protestant tradition. Compare this to other Christian colleges which are often one specific sect or denomination of Christianity, or Protestant institutions that scorn Catholicism as an almost opposite religion to “real” Christianity. The area around Eastern is rich in history and many cute towns exist a stone’s throw away, including Wayne which is within walking distance. Philadelphia, a hub of culture and art, is a mere train ride away. What do you like about Eastern? Make a list and read it every time you feel discouraged. 

You have a responsibility to contribute to Eastern based on the fact that you are a member of a community. In the individualistic society we live in, we come to view community as what we can get out of it, and not what we can put in. But I would argue that this kind of perspective on community is why isolation is at an all-time high across the nation. Part of the beauty of a small college is that you can craft the vision of what you want Eastern to be in your image. Is there a club you feel is missing? Start it. A class you want to take? You can do an individualized directed study with a professor. An event you think would be fun? Take the idea to SGA, or get things shaking yourself. As someone who has been going to Eastern for two years, I will say that I understand why many students choose to transfer schools. But I have also found that you truly get out what you put in–just like at any other school. Let’s appreciate what we like about Eastern, and work to change the parts we don’t like. Let’s pick up the tools and start building.