Editorial

Exodus 3:30

Despite the valiant efforts of various student organizations that try to persuade students to stay on campus during the weekends, Rider still remains a suitcase college. The main reason for the students’ Friday flight from campus is the proximity of their homes to campus. Most of the student body is from the tri-state area, and that may never change. However, the administration has not made many attempts to accommodate students who want or have to stay over the weekend.

After the long line of cars along the mall driveway disappear through the gates on Friday afternoon, the campus becomes a virtual ghost town. All offices are closed. The doors leading to the Snack Bar are locked. The library opens late and closes early. The bookstore even cuts back its hours, and is closed altogether on Sunday. Daly’s, while it generally maintains the same opening hours, severely limits the selection and quality of its food and, until recently, didn’t even have made-to-order omelettes at breakfast. The Health Center, which is shut down completely during the weekends, is vital for students whose only access to medical attention is through the school. And residents have no ability to visit other residence halls using the ID system, as they do during the week.

In the school’s defense, why should the stores and offices remain open if no students are around to utilize them? But why should students remain if there are no services to take care of them? It is a classic Catch-22 situation; however, it can be remedied through the leadership and direction of the administration.

Perhaps one of the largest contributing factors to the mass exodus is the freshman privilege to have cars on campus. For many incoming students, it is their first time living away from home for a significant length of time. This can cause feelings of insecurity, which can be resolved by driving home to see mommy. Also, by leaving campus for home, freshmen are also avoiding the uncomfortable situation of not having a tight-knit group of friends. Why make news friends at school when you can go back home to visit the old ones? A major part of college is expanding one’s boundaries and leaving comfort zones—aka growing up—and everyone will have to get used to it sooner or later.

The administration, however, may not see eliminating this freshman benefit as a viable solution to the problem. After all, a large percentage of freshmen surveyed by the University named the ability to have cars on campus as the deciding factor in choosing Rider over another school. By restricting cars, the administration would probably be looking at a severe drop in enrollment.

However, there are other ways that the University could lure students to spend weekends on campus. First, the 21-and-over crowd could be influenced to drink at the Pub instead of spending loads of money at Club 14. The school needs to keep the Pub open on weekend nights. It could even serve hard liquor instead of just beer. The Health Center should definitely be open over the weekends, so sick students without other insurance can have access to basic medical services. Also, many students are so overwhelmed with classes and work that they are unable to take care of financial problems during the limited hours of Student Financial Services. The office could be open for a minimal amount of time on Saturdays to aid these students.

These suggestions may seem minor, but they are the first step towards eliminating Friday flight. Keeping student services open could lead to more entertaining activities and student interaction during weekends. The initial effort, and risk, needs to be made by the administration. But if students are more willing to take advantage of what is already offered, the University would be more willing to make these positive changes.