During 2003, one of the significant concerns at Yuba College has been the sense of community – or apparent lack thereof – among students. As a 2003 graduate of Yuba College who is now attending CSU, Sacramento, I find it rather ironic to see that the same concern plagues my new alma mater. Labeled a “commuter’s school” by pundits of the academy, I am told CSUS lacks a cohesive sense of community among its student body.
Sadly, I must plead guilty to the implied accusation: I am a “commuter student” who inadvertently contributes to the CSUS “commuter school” image. I drive 70 miles each way to attend classes and work a student job on campus five days per week. Yes, you non-math majors, that equals 140 miles per day, round trip. I have yet to attend any organized student community or athletic events. But I take issue with those who say CSUS lacks “community” among its students because coming to this campus has opened my eyes to a whole new method of student interaction: sidewalk messages scrawled and scripted in colorful chalk.
Forget the old, tired posters and sandwich boards. Sidewalk chalk is not only convenient and economical, it also disappears easily after a little rainstorm or misting from the lawn sprinklers. This semester I have tread upon notices of everything from war discussion forums at noon in the library quad to midterm morale-boosting “love notes” exchanged by sorority sisters. It’s pretty effective “advertising” if you chalk your message in a high-traffic zone, and I thought it was something you might care to try out there at Yuba College.
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