As a student at a small university in the Mississippi Delta, I know all too well the struggles of having a social life when the surrounding towns aren't exactly conducive to having one. I know what it feels like sitting in a room with your friends with no options of fun for the weekend to come. I'm constantly reminded of the glory days of my university, and what things used to be like when the turn ups were plentiful and glorious. Life in this rural town has really made me reflect on what has changed, and factors of the social climate that has affected this change. After thinking long and hard, I comprised a list of these factors.
1. Consistent Social Events.
First and foremost, and quite obviously, social events are the pinnacle of social climate of any university. With not much to do in this area — no mall, movie theater, bars, etc. — it is imperative that a university have consistent social events to keep the students busy. I'm talking about more than just Greek parties, but an array of events, and not just the monotonous frat, beer pong, strolling, turn up that we're used to. Karaoke, Poetry Slams, Open Mic Night, and Day Parties are all wonderful ways to get students out of their rooms and engaged!
2. Participation.
I cannot stress student participation enough! Organizations can throw a multitude of events, but if no one supports them and shows up, it won't matter! You can't complain about the school's social climate if you don't show up to the event's that are thrown. And merely showing up isn't enough! If you show up and just hold up the walls, don't dance at parties, and are too cool to participate, you are a part of the problem!
3. Concentration of living arrangements.
With my school being a partial commuter school, it's not unheard of for students to just stay home on the weekends and not come to any events on campus. That's no fault of theirs and I don't blame them for that, but it does affect the climate of the school. Our campus looks like a ghost town on the weekends, with the parking lots almost completely empty! Another reason that attributes to this, is the fact that a large part of the school population lives off campus in an apartment complex down the road. Other than class, many of these students don't have a reason to be on campus. Now, just imagine, if there were on-campus apartments and the majority of the students were living in one concentrated area. The social climate of the university would be totally different! The level of participation at on-campus events would be exponentially higher.
4. Winning Athletics!
I, for one, rarely attend any sporting events on campus, because of the sheer fact that we suck! I know it sounds harsh, but a winning team has a huge effect on social climate of any university! Without winning sports teams, your school's spirit is probably very low, and no one feels inclined to attend any sporting events if teams are getting blown out of the water. Winning teams attract spectators and tailgaters from all around, and enhance the social climate of the university as a whole.
Now some of these factors are inevitable and students can't do much about, such as campus living arrangements. However, much of the social climate rests on the shoulders of the students and how social they choose to be. Don't complain about there being nothing to do on campus if you never show up to the events and never participate. Get out your rooms, be involved, and most importantly be the change you wish to see on campus!
