The Observer, January 27, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 14
A look back at resolutions
New Year's is a time for honoring traditions, and what better than the age-old favorite of getting trashed to forget about all of the horrible mistakes and disappointments of the previous year (although,use of alcohol is in no way condoned as a means of relieving stress or anxiety). As the semester begins and the university wakes up from the terrible hangover brought on by the many steps taken to become "the world's most powerful learning environment," it seems appropriate to reflect a bit on the resolutions made for the university by The Observer last year, and determine what changes have actually been made over the course of the past year.
Learn from our experiences: but which experiences to pick from? From budget eficits to housing confusion to security scares, we certainly have a lot to improve in the coming year. While the VP debate may have gotten Case its 15 seconds of fame, it seems that we've once again slid off the radar into obscurity. Perhaps this year we should focus on learning from and building on our experiences so that this time next year there will be many examples of positive growth. This year's enormous freshman class was nice, but will enrollment continue to burgeon if Case doesn't get back on the map (without blowing the budget)?
Shed holiday pounds: after some intense cardiovascular workouts, the Baker building was successfully replaced with the much sleeker, slightly more bikini-ready Binary Code Walkway over the course of the last year. Too bad it's still surrounded by mud and not the beautiful, student-friendly communal area promised. With the first respite from major construction on campus in years (budget deficit, anyone?), students can't help but wonder: when will the Master Plan ever be complete? This year: watch your portions. Looking hot in the northern region is nice, but wouldn't it be great if our whole campus were equally toned?
Stay on task: not always our strength, but the new dorms were finished in time for students to move in last fall, as promised. Well done. Now, it appears that the crumbling remains of South Side will once again be in use as student residences next year. Shoot – if only we could maintain our timelines for long-term goals. This year, we should not only focus on keeping communication open between administration and the student body with regards to major campus changes, but also on keeping security tight and reliable, which includes having the GPS systems for the Greenies installed at Greenie stations. And what ever happened to Doc Oc's memorial?
Give back to the community: this one should have been easy. With everything from University Circle planning meetings to forums on racism at Case, we've had plenty of evidence that something needs to be done to improve the relationship between Case and its surrounding community. Cleveland is a vital part of Case's environment, and we can no longer afford to isolate ourselves from the problems and needs of members of our community. This year: meetings and forums are fine, but actions speak louder than words. Organized efforts to tie Case and Cleveland together would be a welcome beginning to relieving a strained relationship.
This year, keeping the aspirin and Gatorade within reach will probably be necessary as we battle back from having one of the most unhappy student populations in the country. But as a campus known for its dedication and hard work, keeping these resolutions will be less of a challenge than it sounds.
