It’s been a big year for IU Southeast; Barack Obama spoke in the Activities Building while he was seeking the presidential seat, and Chelsea Clinton and Madeleine Albright campaigned here for Hillary Clinton.
On top of that, the renovations to University Center have given students more room to socialize downstairs, and more room for business to be conducted in the conference rooms upstairs.
It seems like I’m forgetting something.
Oh yeah, dorms.
Alright, so I’m kidding. I’m really not so aloof that I’ve forgotten about roughly 400 students who live on campus. A look at our paper last semester might suggest otherwise, though.
The only story we covered regarding the new residence halls last semester, to any real degree, was about move-in day. After all the pitching from IUS administration and marketing, you’d think every issue would have been jammed with stories about our addition of residence life.
Unfortunately, we just never heard much about those kids, neither from them nor from the Office of Residence Life.
Wait. There was that time during the residence halls’ dedication ceremony when Bill Cochran, former Indiana House representative and special assistant to the chancellor, mentioned something about not mentioning those alcohol arrests last semester.
Really? Those are the only stories we have to tell? The stories every other residential campus in the world has?
I doubt that.
I got curious and sat in on the first meeting of the Lodge Council, which is a governing body for the residence halls similar to the Student Government Association. It helped give me a sense of what concerns student have while living here.
I still don’t know why they just had their first two meetings, since their officers were appointed in September.
Anyway, we want more than stories about drunk kids. We’re interested in the residents themselves. Along with what’s worrying them, we want to know who they are, where they’re from and what life is like for them here.
I tried this last semester, but anything good is worth a second shot. Tell us your stories. Let us know what you’re up to, or what you want to see.
The Horizon is here to help represent you, and I’m sure all of you aren’t getting arrested for drinking. We want the good stories, too, and we’re sure you’re full of them.
It’s easy to get in touch with us. Check out our masthead on page two and find your contact medium of choice. I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
By JEROD CLAPP
Senior Editor
jlclapp@ius.edu