As I walked around campus Monday, I felt as if life had returned to Raleigh. Campus sidewalks were filled with thousands of fresh faces and beautiful people anticipating the start of the school year. Despite the 100-degree heat that plagued the Cates Crawl, students huddled around information tables to learn more about various University organizations and departments. A well-groomed and kept campus provided an appropriate and striking background for the Crawl. It was exhilarating to be back on campus and to feel the buzz generated by the returning student body. What can I say — I’m addicted to N.C. State University.
The beginning of the fall semester is always exciting, but this year feels a bit different. Perhaps it has something to do with the record-breaking freshman class — 4,750 strong. They join you and me to make our school North Carolina’s largest university with an enrollment of more than 32,000. Over 7,700 students are packing into residence halls. The no vacancy sign is lit with on-campus housing capacity at 100 percent.
Yes, these factors have something to do with it, but I think there’s more. There is heightened sense of positive urgency and energy, unlike any I have experienced before. And I have experienced a few; this is my eleventh year at N.C. State.
The 2006-2007 year ended in tragedy with the Virginia Tech shootings ripping through the higher education community. But this year begins with opportunity and change. It really is a fresh start on a lot of fronts: new students, a new public face, new leadership, new records, new faculty and staff (including a recently hired head football coach), and new buildings. It is truly a new start.
And there is a concerted effort to present this new image. “The Web is the single most powerful communication tool we have for conveying all the excitement found at N.C. State. We wanted a Web site that matched our reputation and really captured our University’s character.” Those are the words of Debbie Griffith, associate vice chancellor for public affairs, in regards to N.C. State’s redesigned Web page. The project, completed by outside consultants under the direction of a university committee, was recently launched.
With only a few minutes of browsing the new site under my belt, my initial impression is that it does meet the group’s objective of capturing and engaging the essence of our community of learners. I will have to admit, I was a little thrown off by the giant APPLY NOW button on the left side of the page. Does it need to be that big? I didn’t think potential students were applying for a mortgage.
There is also new leadership on campus. McQueen Campbell, a 1983 graduate in accounting, was recently elected chair of the N.C. State University Board of Trustees. Campbell is a good selection for students. He is a relatively recent graduate who has supported student causes in the past. Trustees and administrators will be working with some new and innovative student leaders — Student Body President Bobby Mills and Student Senate President Greg Doucette. I am optimistic and encouraged that the current Student Government will break the mold of the past regimes and provide real advocacy on behalf of students.
Earlier I mentioned that this is my eleventh year as a student at N.C. State. I only say that to impress upon you the following: it is time to take chances and become a contributing member in our growing global community. I’ve sucked the life out of this University — taking advantage of every opportunity and possibility. And I hope you do the same. I guess I never understood why people would ever leave a place they called “the greatest time of their lives.” What can I say — I’m addicted to N.C. State University.
Are you addicted to N.C. State? Send your thoughts on Andrew’s column to [email protected].
