Everyone can admit it has been a time of changes and challenges for both Miami University and Oxford, Ohio. Miami built a state-of-the-art business school rivaling that of any public university. The university is also working hard to raise funding for a new Bicentennial Student Center, which it argues is necessary to stay competitive with other universities across the nation. The university is planning to improve residence halls and give students a better on-campus living experience.
The class of 2013 will never know the excitement (and yes, the fear) of walking past the upperclassmen overflowing from their yards chanting "freshman" on their way to convocation, as they were re-routed this year. Despite the re-route and attempt to shield the first-years from upperclassmen parties, Miami students found a way to carry on the tradition as they put down their drinks, ran across Tallawanda Road and cheered them on in front of Millett.
But as the university has continued to make improvements in structure and change many traditions such as beer in fraternity houses, Oxford is also changing. Lots of universities offer strong liberal arts educations, and there are many small college towns scattered across the United States, but what makes this town in southwest Ohio so unique is the tradition.
First-years won't wait 45 minutes to squeeze behind a tiny table at a crowded Uptown Cafe. The new Patterson's Cafe in Stewart Square is a nice breakfast place any visiting parents would happily take their hungover college student. While its nice to have the space to get up and the availability of a bathroom (not going to UDF to sneakily use its facilities), the charm of sitting in a crammed breakfast cafe is lost. Hopefully the tradition of overhearing your neighbors' conversation when you are practically sitting on top of them can carry on with the new cafe that has replaced it.
The uptown bar scene is also rapidly changing to become more high class and less college. The class of 2013 will never get to drink at a Balcony happy hour or tell the bartender to spin a wheel to decide which shot they will order for the next round. They won't experience the thrill of fighting for a place to order a drink at Church Street while their shoes stick to the ground. With the end of Alexander House, also comes the end of $1.25 PBR tall boys at A-list. Instead, first-years have slew of luxury apartments with rent costs worthy of some major cities and another sushi bar, only blocks from Tonic.
To the class of 2013, I challenge you to make the next four years count and remember it's college. It's okay if the bottom of your shoes are sticky after a night of talking and drinking with friends at your favorite dive bar instead of sipping expensive martinis at an arguably classier establishment. It's okay if you'd rather live in a house with a washer and dryer crammed in a corner of the kitchen, than a luxury apartment with its own laundry room and twice the rent. It's okay if you like the idea of eight friends crammed into a tiny living room to watch The Bachelor on an old TV your dad gave you from your basement, rather than sitting in much less cozy apartment staring at a brand new flat screen.
Some argue these changes are improvements. They say students have changed, and Miami and Oxford must adapt to accommodate the new tastes of students. So if the Miami that I have grown to love and the college lifestyle for which my friends and I have enjoyed over the last three years is changing, my only hope is the students find a way to carry on the traditions.
Today's feature story gives you a good checklist with which to start.
