Graduation approaches and families descend on New Orleans, eager for those proud moments when their prized progeny cross the stage. Our parents and grandparents eagerly proclaim our greatness and list our accomplishments. And rightfully so; for our families, it’s a true reward for the many years of sacrifice that made it possible.
Unfortunately, Loyola’s administration has also taken the role of a proud parent. They inundate us with banquets and award ceremonies, systematically pinning gold stars and blue ribbons on students’ chests.
This supposedly affirms that we are good people, “committed to justice” and “dedicated to service” or whatever other catchphrase the University is expected to promote.
It’s the perfect example of misguided “feel-good” policies from Loyola’s administration. Tuition money is spent on pomp and ceremony affirming our greatness instead of actually challenging us to be great.
We should hold both the administration and ourselves to a much higher standard. If we did, then the diplomas we receive at graduation would represent much more than any catchphrase or plaque the administration might invent.
To me, the Danna Center Renovations seem to be another example of Loyola’s palliative policies. I recognize the ugliness of the Danna Center and the need for better spaces for student groups.
Unlike the administration, however, I have not fooled myself into believing that replacing ghastly blue tiles with glorious red ones will change anything about my overall experience at Loyola.
The administration doesn’t seem to realize that changing the chairs we sit on and the tables we eat off of will not make Orleans Room food taste better. Nor will new casino carpeting in the St. Charles Room tie service learning opportunities to classes.
The “feel-good” policies encourage patting each other on the back and talking about how pretty the building will be rather than seriously challenging students.
We live in a unique city that has both exceptional graces and pertinent problems, yet we isolate ourselves to issues of tiles on the Danna Center and coffee in the Underground.
When the administration provides so little guidance in seriously confronting issues which affect New Orleans and the area, it is not surprising that the best community service efforts of our fraternities and sororities include organizing a car wash and donating the proceeds to charity.
I won’t speak for anyone else, but my most enlightening and challenging life experiences haven’t come sitting inside the Danna Center or washing cars in a Loyola parking lot.
A relatively small shift in perspective could go a long way to making Loyola a better school.
The administration could spend more resources on developing class components which force Loyola students into the community in active roles, creating more serious and consistent internship programs locally and bringing more prominent engaging speakers to Loyola. Students could then more easily consider different perspectives and improve themselves for it.
At the end of four years, the people crossing that graduation stage would be so well-rounded they wouldn’t need gold stars to prove it.
Max Wentlandt is a Spanish and history junior from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
