Editorial:
A missing chapter only WCC can fill

A picture is worth a thousand words — at least when there is a picture. Having no picture could in some cases mean a priceless loss.

An attempt to solidify tradition seems to be going by the wayside as many Westminster (WCC) senior students, for whatever reason, have decided to not have their photo taken for the University yearbook, the Shadow. We wonder why. The reality is that most are passing up the opportunity to have that Kodak moment not only for themselves but for their classmates and families to look back on. They’re also making it pretty clear they feel disaffected with, if not resentful of, Big Brother to the south.

Perhaps the WCC students are marching in silent protest against further integration of the two campuses. To be quite honest, there seems to be a bit of tension between the two as of late. The center of controversy over the merger seems to be an identity crisis. For many years, WCC had its own yearbook, The Quadrangle. But it did not appear every year – in fact, there has been only one edition since 1999. So, the Lawrenceville campus reached out to the Princeton campus with an opportunity to include WCC in the University yearbook.

In all likelihood, what looked from our end like a gracious gesture may have been perceived as another gulp that will swallow the distinct identity that is WCC. We can understand that, but we note that none of Rider’s other colleges has a separate yearbook, let alone a separate SGA, a separate academic catalog or a separate graduation ceremony. Full integration is a long way off. But some baby steps — sort of like cultural exchanges between alien nations — can go a long way toward mutual understanding and appreciation. We thought the combined yearbook was a cool step in that direction.

Here at The Rider News we are working hard to provide news from both campuses. Just in this semester alone we have featured the plan to develop this connection, WCC’s arrangement to perform concerts at Princeton High School, the status of LGBT students on both campuses, renovations of residence halls on the Princeton campus, and much more. On Tuesday, Nov. 28, a handful of editors will head over to meet with the Princeton campus Senate to map out the next steps.

Truth be told, students at WCC do not feel associated with the Lawrenceville campus. This was confirmed in a small sampling of opinion by The Rider News this week. If that does not paint a clear picture, maybe the numbers will. Only a little more than a quarter of the students agree with the integration of the two campuses.

This should be the time when we all rise above the sometimes-heated emotions that are too easy to be swept up in. Understandably, the adjustment to “two campuses, one university” is initially a lot to bear. In the end, the rich histories and identities of both campuses will transcend the future of a unified University. Sure it’s uncomfortable at first. But does that mean we lose the opportunity to mold a University and student body that stands only to benefit?

We would never tell fellow students they must participate in this or that aspect of University life. But we want to encourage WCC students to smile for the camera. You already do the whole University proud, and we’d love to record your success in our joint yearbook.