It is so easy to get caught up in the things that aren’t great at Stevens. Just pick up any issue of The Stute and you’re sure to find a variety of complaints covering academics, extracurricular, and Greek life. We receive letters to the editor whenever something really bad happens, and it’s a great way to voice concerns (see page 9). I have had a lot of moments when I just really strongly disliked this school and I used my column to say so. However, I think that students should feel free to use this platform when something is really great and making them happy, too. I really like to read the archives we have in the office in my spare time, and I think that as we write Stevens history each week we should have some opinion content that really captures and shares our happy college memories. With that being said, I want to share how happy I was to attend Unity Showcase for the first time and Accepted Students Day.
A friend asked if I wanted to go to Unity, and I almost blew it off for a trip to the mall. I thought it was going to be like any other cultural event with a lot of food, some flags, music, and little dancing (see page 6). I had no idea that it was actually going to be a night of meaningful entertainment that would literally give me chills! The first thing I appreciated about Unity was that I saw new faces up on stage — because it’s really easy to keep going to the same type of events with the same friends or executive board of a club representing. Then the costumes, choreography, and voice overs were a clear product of many hours of hard work that just created beautiful and cultural stories that did a great job fighting against stereotypes and breaking down. The Ethnic Student Council then presented awards and there was so much friendship and appreciation shown — it was really touching. Beyond that, so many family members attended the event to support the students on stage. It was just a really special night and I can’t wait for next year’s.
I have done table-sitting at Accepted Students day and Club Fair before, but this one felt different and was actually really enjoyable for me. I took a camera and went around snapping pictures and I realized how much I like our small community. I knew most of the other students at nearby tables, and, instead of taking shifts, a lot of them just hung out together for the two hours. With music playing and everyone smiley and proud to be representing their organization to “future ducks,” it was a good time both days. It was really nice when President Farvardin came through with the presidential puppy, Martini. There was beautiful weather, free food, and Stevens pride.
I really hope that in the future we could get something like RAGE to work well so we can have more of these large scale, all-RSO-inclusive events just to casually hangout all together and share our interests with the rest of the Stevens community. And I hope that when that does happen, we can keep these good memories alive in The Stute.
