She talks about these as linked concepts -- they depend on each other for meaning in the context of college life.
The student life page on the SLU website talks about connection (community) and activities that will promote community (see here). One of the things Nathan observes about community (and subsequently diversity) is that with so many choices, there is less community and more individuality (and also more sameness and less diversity). The website says there are 170 (AND COUNTING!!!) clubs that one can belong to. And like in her example, there is a line that says if nothing "floats your boat," start a new club.
Wha'?
I'm the faculty advisor for ACJS, and we never get more than a small handful of people to come to meetings. After having read this book, I realize it's probably because there are too many other demands on students' time. But try explaining that to the chair of the department. The answer is "try harder" to get them to come. Think of the poor RA in Nathan's example trying her best to get people to come to movie night. I can relate.
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I lived in the Spanish House last year. It was like our own little country of people--just the Spaniards, the French, and the Germans. We were officially administered to by Fusz Hall, but most of our events and social gatherings were exclusive although all were welcome.
ReplyDeleteIf we invited other people to attend, very few would show up unless they were established friends. And hey, it took a little while, but after a few visits, people knew how fun and welcoming it was to hang out at the Spanish House! We had some groupies. And so many of us would show up all the time to such events and hang out--we weren't often too busy to 'be home together'.
The (former) Language Houses actually had their own semi-isolated space at SLU behind the Village and Fusz Hall; it was really well-tucked away. I was so happy the year I lived in the Spanish House because I became a link in a circle of friends and roomies that all HAD to live together, but who happily did so.
I can relate to the disappointment of ignored, unappreciated efforts at community. As of this year because now living in Fusz Hall, I have only one roommate, and know perhaps two other people's names that live on my floor. We do not hang out or plan things. We say hi to one another and pass each other in the hallways, moving on without stopping. When the RAs DO plan things, those few that do show up, only come for a few minutes, take a cookie, and head back off to their rooms.
In the Spanish House, I was apart of a community and a valid link in an 'organization' whereas this year, I am just a number in a room with numbers on it, on a floor with numbers, in a building with floor numbers.
Even if all the students of SLU live on campus--inside a very small area of space, it almost seems like it is too far away from others to socialize and attend planned events if one has to walk across campus or only halfway.