Emory University has it all. It is a mid-sized school in a large city that also sits in a nice, suburban neighborhood near a beautiful park. It is pretty diverse, with excellent facilities and extremely intelligent students. So why have I noticed many Emory students say that they don’t want to be here, or compare themselves to other schools so frequently? Our lack of school spirit surely plays a part, but that’s not the only problem.
When you think of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Carolina Blue comes to mind. When you think of The University of Southern California, you think of the Trojan spirit. Even schools without a lot of school spirit, like The University of Chicago, are notable for their core curriculum. When you say you go to Emory, people often say it’s a very good school, but they never mention a specific selling point. Emory can stand out though — it can be the “goldilocks,” or middle ground, of all schools. But, in order to do that, the school administration needs to create something within walking distance we can call our own.
A “third place,” by sociological definition, is a social environment away from “first places,” such as homes and dorms, and “second places,” like schools and workplaces. This can come in the form of cafes, bars, parks and theaters. Although Emory students have beautiful buildings where they can spend their days studying, they do not have a space to relax, catch up with friends and enjoy themselves. At most schools, the “college bar,” by definition, exists within walking distance for students attending that university. In this shared space, people host open mic nights, student groups perform and music and dancing are encouraged.
Emory students seldom get to showcase their skills to their peers in a non-academic or club setting. There is no sense of community: Sunday night football is often watched alone in people’s rooms instead of together in a common space. The restaurants in Emory Village feel desolate and empty. It is no wonder that there is so little school spirit at Emory. Many feel that the lack of school ethos stems from the fact that we do not have a football team. This isn’t the full truth. Emory’s lack of spirit stems from having nothing specific outside of academics that students can call their own.
Additionally, the lack of third spaces creates fewer traditions that bring a sense of unity. I completely acknowledge and respect the Emory administration’s attempts to fix this by trying to create events like the Fall Festival and Songfest or by providing movie nights and midnight snacks. But these events are not necessarily appealing to college students. Just five years ago, Emory canceled a tradition of renting out the High Museum of Art for a student gala. This was the perfect example of shared college-like experiences that we lack — and yet, it was discontinued.
If Emory lacks entertainment on campus, the least the University can do is allow easier access to the broader city to find third spaces. Experience shuttles run infrequently, and in order for Emory students to kick back and explore, an Uber ride is required, as few of the shuttles go to restaurants, museums or bars. An Uber ride to get anywhere is not financially sustainable for many students, and the fact that Emory students have to leave campus to find a fun place proves incredibly isolating. Moreover, this leaves low-income students stranded and limited in their options for exploring Atlanta.
Emory always advertises Atlanta but doesn’t give us much of a chance to connect with the city. Perhaps this is why students refer to Emory as one of the most depressed schools. Emory’s elimination of college bars, crackdown on Greek life and lacking connection with the rest of Atlanta makes the going-out culture at Emory incredibly elitist. Students who cannot afford the overpriced Ubers and drinks every weekend are excluded from the social scene.
Emory is medium ground, but it often feels like the administration is not sure which way to turn. We have large, beautiful Greek mansions students cannot utilize due to Emory’s shutdown of Greek Life. We are in the middle of a city, but the University does not provide resources for us to interact with it. Moreover, they limit non-academic shared spaces such as bars near campus, as well as entertainment spaces, like movie theaters, clothing stores or small businesses. The closing of Emory Village’s Slice and Pint in 2017 is an example of this. Walkable bars used to liven up campus culture. We have few ways to easily access spaces that are just as important to the college experience as the school. College is about interesting classes, great professors and smart students, but it is just as equally about experiences with friends, exploring new places and bonding over shared experiences.
The answer is in shared spaces that increase a sense of unity. With this, Emory could stand out as being the perfect middle ground of new and old, big and small. Emory is old school. By emphasizing previous traditions and bringing back third spaces, we will be able to develop traditions outside of academics, and as a result, connect more with alumni and the people who came before us. Emory’s annual Coke Toast and gate walk is a step in the right direction, and we need to continue to create more quirky and fun traditions throughout the year.
With all of this considered, Emory’s plunge in U.S. News & World Report rankings last year coincides with recent limitations in Emory students’ social life. However, it does not have to be like this. Just 10 years ago, third spaces like bars and restaurants were part of Emory Village, beautiful fraternity mansions were full of life and traditions were valued. Emory is a wonderful place with hardworking people, and students get the sense that the administration really cares about them and their well-being.
However, we need to stick out more in order to give people a reason to come here. Those who choose top colleges tend to be well-rounded and do not just look for academic experiences, but also seek a broader social experience. By introducing new traditions, investing in third spaces within Emory Village, or if that's not feasible, creating more accessibility to them, top students will be more likely to choose Emory over other institutions.
Sabrina Lane (27C) is from New York, NY.
