2008 Woodie Awards
A Senior Reflects
Lauren Hainley
Issue date: 9/15/06 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
With the class of 2010 bringing in a record number of new students, the class of 2007 is left to reminisce upon three years at a college that has changed significantly. Hell, we remember when the Odyssey program was only a twinkle in Tim Cloyd's eye.
When I asked my friends what they missed most about Hendrix, the overwhelming response was that they missed the parties. In the good old days, we were able to party without fences. People were allowed to walk around with cups at all events. Plus, there was a lot less drama. Well, unless you count the uprising against Dr. Gulielmetti's dismissal.
As I reflect upon the things I experienced here, I am struck by the memory of seniors, my freshman year, wearing shirts stating simply "I remember when Hendrix was cool." And I ask myself, what does this mean for us? If the class of 2007 collectively agrees that Hendrix was better "back in the day," and those that came before us thought the same, does that mean that Hendrix is doomed to forever stop being cool? Is it doomed to fall into a bottomless pit of lameness?
I say no. Hendrix is what you make of it. Back in August of 2003, when we began the four year ride we now call our college career, parking lots looked more like junkyards than new car lots and clothes looked more like Goodwill rejections than Abercrombie and Fitch: this was the atmosphere we subscribed to. Hendrix was a lover not a fighter. It was a place to find yourself and not be hindered by societal expectations, and that is exactly what we wanted it to be. The problem is we still see it that way today.
As seniors, we idealize what we remember about freshman year, but we tend to forget that what we need from Hendrix changes, as do our hopes and dreams for the future. Each class brings its own expectations. They make Hendrix what they want it to be. They gain what they need to gain from our dear alma mater.
We do not know what we will need from Hendrix in our final year. We are not there yet. Nevertheless, as we embark upon the final leg of our journey with the finish line just beyond our fingertips, can we really fault those whose journey has just begun? Each one of us has different memories about our time here. Each one of us has gained from Hendrix what we needed at that moment. There have been times when Hendrix has let us down, but Hendrix has always been cool or else we would have transferred long ago.
However, as seniors we do have to right to reminisce upon years gone by. It is our right as those who survived the classes and parties. We can remember the way the way thing used to be and think fondly of Dr. Bruce, Dr. Stern, and Dr. Spatz. Besides, the campus was more beautiful before those Odyssey flags anyway.
When I asked my friends what they missed most about Hendrix, the overwhelming response was that they missed the parties. In the good old days, we were able to party without fences. People were allowed to walk around with cups at all events. Plus, there was a lot less drama. Well, unless you count the uprising against Dr. Gulielmetti's dismissal.
As I reflect upon the things I experienced here, I am struck by the memory of seniors, my freshman year, wearing shirts stating simply "I remember when Hendrix was cool." And I ask myself, what does this mean for us? If the class of 2007 collectively agrees that Hendrix was better "back in the day," and those that came before us thought the same, does that mean that Hendrix is doomed to forever stop being cool? Is it doomed to fall into a bottomless pit of lameness?
I say no. Hendrix is what you make of it. Back in August of 2003, when we began the four year ride we now call our college career, parking lots looked more like junkyards than new car lots and clothes looked more like Goodwill rejections than Abercrombie and Fitch: this was the atmosphere we subscribed to. Hendrix was a lover not a fighter. It was a place to find yourself and not be hindered by societal expectations, and that is exactly what we wanted it to be. The problem is we still see it that way today.
As seniors, we idealize what we remember about freshman year, but we tend to forget that what we need from Hendrix changes, as do our hopes and dreams for the future. Each class brings its own expectations. They make Hendrix what they want it to be. They gain what they need to gain from our dear alma mater.
We do not know what we will need from Hendrix in our final year. We are not there yet. Nevertheless, as we embark upon the final leg of our journey with the finish line just beyond our fingertips, can we really fault those whose journey has just begun? Each one of us has different memories about our time here. Each one of us has gained from Hendrix what we needed at that moment. There have been times when Hendrix has let us down, but Hendrix has always been cool or else we would have transferred long ago.
However, as seniors we do have to right to reminisce upon years gone by. It is our right as those who survived the classes and parties. We can remember the way the way thing used to be and think fondly of Dr. Bruce, Dr. Stern, and Dr. Spatz. Besides, the campus was more beautiful before those Odyssey flags anyway.
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