Being a college student isn’t easy. By the time Thursdays roll around after a week of tests, papers, mind-numbing lectures and frigid temperatures, we can’t resist the thumping bass emanating from the dark basements that surround campus.

Like many Syracuse University students, I’m just looking to meet people and have a good time.

But I sometimes find myself wondering if getting drunk, rubbing up against strangers, grabbing some fast food and then flopping into bed is the healthiest way to spend every night of the weekend.

But is there really anything else to do?

Technically, there are plenty of things to do on campus on the weekends – or at least that’s what I’m told. In reality, however, campus events are few and far between and usually appeal only to small groups of students.

What this campus needs is a centrally located place where students can gather in celebration of a Saturday of sobriety – like a student center.

Wait. Don’t we already have one of those?

What SU has is The Schine Student Center – an oddly shaped building known by students for its food court and bookstore. Unfortunately for us, however, the only thing about it that resembles a student center is its name.

Granted, Schine is open until midnight every night.

By open, I mean the doors are unlocked – but there’s not actually anything to do inside once you venture there.

What Schine needs is a place where students can gather to meet new people in an atmosphere where alcohol isn’t a necessity. For a campus this size, students shouldn’t feel like parties are the only place they can go to meet people.

How about an area where studying is prohibited – a place with couches where students can actually hangout? An area where students can meet to watch TV, play pool, poker or video games would go a long way. The Panasci Lounge on the second floor is a great place to take a nap between classes, but that’s about it.

‘When comparing our student center to those at other schools, ours has something to be desired,’ said Student Association President Ryan Kelly. ‘It’s more of an office building. There isn’t a place where you can go to hang out unless you are going to an event.’

Kelly said SA is meeting with Student Center and Programming Services today to discuss ideas for revitalizing Schine.

Assel Baltabayeva, sophomore information studies major, agrees that Schine could afford to be improved.

‘Schine does its official job, but people don’t go there to have fun. It needs to have more things to attract students,’ said Baltabayeva. The food court should be open later – and they should show sporting events at night.’

Kelly knows what needs to be done, all he needs now is the support of the university.

Anti-drinking rhetoric on the part of the administration can only go so far. Actions need to be taken. If you don’t want us to drink, give us somewhere besides our dorm rooms where we can hangout.

Meghan Overdeep is a featured columnist whose columns appear Fridays in The Daily Orange. E-mail her at meoverde@syr.edu.

Published on February 8, 2007 at 12:00 pm