My fellow seniors, most of us have been here at Stevens for three to four years. We have seen many things change. Some of us lament the changes that have been made, and we have every right to do so. Change is not always comfortable, nor is it always welcome. Each graduating class will complain about how the freshmen act like “such freshmen”, but what else do you expect? That too was us at one point, and they only look to better themselves during their time here. Much like the freshmen that will improve themselves, there are things that have improved since our freshman year.
The most obvious thing that has improved to me is Pierce. My being an RA has allowed me to study the evolution of the dining hall that we have all complained about one time or another. Its lowest point was categorized by Off Center’s performance of a skit about Peanut Butter Soup with Chicken, but after that, the only direction was up. The addition of sliced fresh fruit is a godsend; a bowl of pineapple and cantaloupe have become a daily routine for me. Those with dietary restrictions have a dedicated room of food. Are you looking for a seat? The booths in the main area and restricted access to Pierce II are now a distant memory and space is plenty.
The second thing that sticks out to me are the improvements to the residence life. My freshman year, I lived in Humphreys 318. Trying to go to sleep during that first month was miserable. We didn’t have AC at all, and it was sweltering hot. Now, these freshmen have AC units in CPH and Humphreys, and if they’re lucky, their own bathrooms in Jonas. Back in my day, if you wanted to go visit your friend in leased housing during the winter, you would have to trudge through the windy and snow filled streets, but now we all have the luxury of multiple shuttles running from early in the morning until late at night.
Finally, I would like to mention something that we all have access to: the library. Remember walking through the first floor, trying to find a table that was close to one of the outlets? Those things were like oases in an electrical desert. Now, we have outlets built into the tables on the first floor, or the tables are located near an outlet. Did you ever venture onto the second floor if the first was filled, only to find all the desks were occupied, and the books nobody read took up space and collected dust? That area has been renovated and become a more conducive environment for working and meeting with teammates.
There are still plenty of other things that have improved, but those can be saved for another time. Yes, I know, there is always room for improvement (something I will probably touch on in a future article), but boy, has this campus come a long way.
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