If there is one thing UConn has not been this past year, it is dull. There have been incredible highs and lows, national championships, budget crises, many protests, controversies, hypocrisy and contradictions. We have a new Jonathan, who is growing up before our eyes, and even a new president, officially. The Editorial Board of the Daily Campus has attempted to navigate all these topics and provide analysis for the UConn community. We believe that it is imperative that UConn students stay informed, especially in the face of the dominant narrative put forth by sources like UConn Today meant to glorify the university.
As students at this university, we exist in a liminal, transient space, and are often unconcerned with the state of it because of how temporary it is. It is relatively easy for many students to pass through UConn unconcerned and unaware of what happens on this campus or its various problems. For some, UConn is merely a stepping stone toward much more later in life, to do well enough in classes, build a resume and graduate with a job or further schooling. There is ultimately nothing wrong with this mindset, but it does not properly capture the unique opportunity present here.
Despite the fact that we have such a short period of time at this university, there is value both in the process of it and in the place itself. Even if we graduate after only four years, the presence that we have and the ways in which we shape the space outlasts us. When we create connections and do work outside of the classroom to create community, it ultimately does not matter how long we were here personally. It is about creating something larger than ourselves, for the betterment of people. It is the next person, and the person after that, who are what students need to consider when they live here at UConn. It is both possible and necessary to create community at this place with however much time we have.
As even in this transient state, we face problems because of the values, direction and operations of this university. The need for us to look towards more than our own future becomes clear. The Editorial Board has written about the failures on all types of issues. We have no real plan to become truly carbon zero and the administration continues to greenwash the current circumstances into oblivion. The UConn Foundation does not care what any students have to say on any of its unethical uses of this school’s money. This university puts blood on all our hands by economically tying itself to the war industry. It represses students’ right to free speech and protest. All the while, budget cuts threaten to harm the quality of education for all students.
This year has revealed new depths of some of the issues plaguing this university, but it has also shown great hope from the UConn community. Regardless of all the issues, we continue to move forward, organizing and coming together to demand better. Even if some of the issues continue after this year, the act of resistance and advocating for something better ensures the future through the new generation who will continue onwards. The Editorial Board will continue to question, to advocate, to call for more, to build and support community on UConn’s campus. Students will continue to do the same.
To all seniors who sought to create a space for themselves and others at this university, to all who sought to improve the world around us even if we’re only able to see it through for a short time, to all the seniors who care and all those who trust in those younger than them to continue onwards, we wish you good luck and we will take it from here.