Issue date: 4/6/06 Section: Opinions

Kelly Reed

One of my favorite ways to tell people who don't go to Truman about what it's like to be a student here is by expressing the sense of unity we have. When talking with people who attend Mizzou or other larger schools, it seems this aspect is sorely missed at their home institutions. There are a number of illustrations of the ways in which we, the students of Truman, get along splendidly on a day-to-day basis.

Overall, students and faculty are polite and congenial. As far as Greek systems go, ours has a great deal of positive interorganizational relations. Ordinarily, more than 200 student organizations coexist peacefully on a campus slightly larger than a St. Louis shopping mall. This is no small accomplishment. Sometimes it seems odd that such a socially diverse array of students exists harmoniously in such close quarters - for the most part. But look hard enough behind the utopian green screen, and you might find a darker underbelly of dissent at Kirksville's finest university.

One of our sour spots here at Truman is that, in lieu of petty Greek fights, we occupy ourselves with getting involved in other kinds of struggles. One well-known rivalry is the one between some of the female athletes on campus and the sorority women. However, because female athletes who rush neither are buying their new friends nor are they selling out their old ones, it makes no sense why a line should ever be crossed and only one loyalty chosen when no competing ideals encourage such a decision. But regardless of this reality, the rivalry continues to exist.

Another legendary Truman dispute is the Cold War-esque rivalry between Student Senate and Student Activities Board. This one probably came into existence long ago after one too many instances of stepping on each other's toes sans apologizing. But it also is fair to assume that each organization still lacks a clear enough understanding and appreciation for all the things organizations both do for the students on campus, which probably has something to do with it as well. Regardless of the origin, there is an odd tension between the groups that supposedly dates back before most of us were even born, and it is doubtful if the unpleasant sentiments are even logically founded anymore. Yet they continue.

And finally, the cherry on the organizational hostility cake is the rumor that even some campus service organizations - that's right - have developed a slightly unhealthy sense of competition at times. Only at Truman.

I suppose it goes without saying that occurrences such as these are somewhat tragic on the great stage of an otherwise well-functioning university - maybe not in the grand scheme of things, but definitely within the microcosm that is our tight-knit school environment. We all coexist in the same small world for these few years, and our time spent here does not need to be filled with unnecessary resentment. Because we all have different stories and agendas, we also all have something completely unique to bring to the table.

Be different. Think for yourself. Most of all, respect and take care of each other because our unity is truly what makes the Truman experience worth the ride.

Kelly Reed is a senior
psychology major from
Kansas City, Mo.

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