The Observer, April 28, 2006
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 26
Graduating students have an obligation to Case
I was going to use this space to reminisce about the last four years of my life, about the impact of this university and newspaper on my future, and about the friends I made throughout my time here who have made it such an enjoyable experience. But after countless failed attempts, I decided to leave that to Jess Kingsberg. She's better at it than I am anyway.
Instead, I realize that there are many more pressing issues at hand. Right now, I can almost guarantee that the Class of 2006 is torn between two distinct emotions. One: A longing for more time to spend with friends; to relive the college experience without the pesky classes getting in the way. Two: an urge to run like hell.
The latter stems from a combination of factors. After four years of lab reports, exams, lectures, group projects, and papers there comes a point when you just plain burn out. A regular nine to five starts to look really appealing when compared to the 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. schedules that many of us hold (especially when you throw in weekends without homework).
Another factor, though, and one I've heard most recently, is the idea that Case is starting to fall apart. That Case isn't the same university we entered four years ago. This is true, for the most part. So much has changed during our time here. Some of the changes seen have been for the better. It seems the university has emerged from its geeky shell, and is struggling to find a medium between the stereotype and the party school.
However, it is the negative forces of change that are most unsettling. In the aftermath of a branding campaign that revamped what we knew and in the midst of a budget crisis that has created a slew of uncertainties, Case isn't the safe and stable environment from which we expected to graduate.
Before seniors hit the ground running, we – as seniors – should take time and examine the situation we're leaving behind. Instead of walking away without looking back, we should pass on what we've learned to those students left behind. We should preserve our relationships with this university, as there is no doubt of our success, and use what we take away to help improve the situation. We should consider those professors who truly changed our lives and hope to keep them here, to further impact others. We should care because, while many of us may not care to admit it, this has been our home for some of the most important years of our lives. Even if your only motivation is to maintain the value of your diploma, care a little.
As seniors, we have reached our turning point, and are using what we've taken from Case to pave the way for our futures. Case has also reached a turning point and is searching for a path to lead it to success. As alumni, we have the ability to guide our alma mater, as it has done us, and help it find its feet. So before you pack your bags, remember that what happens to Case happens to its students, and we're not excluded as graduates.
