A funny thing happened on OU’s campus. And, it happened over night. On Tuesday, Sept. 8, the Student Rec Center officially opened its doors to the community. By Wednesday, the atmosphere on campus had already done a complete 180 degree turn.
Rather than students marching to class, and only class, there has been more traffic on foot around campus than ever before. Instead of finding students napping during breaks in their vehicles, they could be overheard planning to work out between classes. And while there are usually many parking spots to choose from for students with 8 a.m. classes, there has been a battle for parking spots at 7 a.m. in the O’Dowd lot.
What does this change in campus attitude, that happened in just a matter of hours, say about OU?
It says the Student Rec Center is a positive change and one long overdue. Those who have been at OU four years or longer have witnessed a lot of changes, but this one will probably influence the future of student life more than any other building or program.
And though many faculty members believe academics should be a college student’s first priority, young adults, fresh out of high school, have high expectations of what a true college experience is all about. Granted, studying is first to come to mind, but athletics, new faces and socializing follow close behind.
Before this term there was no place that could attract potential students, keep them interested and give them something to be proud of. The Student Rec Center is doing just that for students, new and old OU is not a community college. It is about time it begins to grow and prosper at an uncontrollable speed as it heads full force towards the 21st century.
In order to do so, there has to be some sacrifice. For this generation of students, the Student Rec Center is having a tremendous impact on the community, in obvious, pocket-felt way.
A $75 fee has been tacked on to tuition bills to pay for this new facility. It’s an additional cost that didn’t exist until now, but we’re not the only generation of OU that is expected to pay the fee. The future generations of OU will also have to pay the fee, and who knows, it might get more expensive, just as tuition rises every year.
The only difference between today’s generation and tomorrow’s is that for us it’s just a new $75 that has been tacked on to bills, on top of the anticipated tuition hike. Tomorrow’s generation may just take it for granted.
Yes, college is an expensive investment, but if you want the education, challenge and benefits of a four year institution, then be willing and expect to pay the price. The Rec Center is worth every penny of the price. The atmosphere that is fun, exciting and budding throughout campus proves it.
