Originally published April 17, 1998
by Adam Zurn

We've all heard those questions from the administration that don't seem to have answers.

Why are students so apathetic about campus events? Why are students leaving on the weekends and making this a "suitcase college?" Why aren't students graduating in four years?

The answer is rather simple. It doesn't involve two-year studies that chart the migration of teens to Florida or questions concerning sexual preference. The answer is the number of credits a student has to complete in order to graduate.

I'm not asking that the number of credits required for graduation be decreased. I'm all for people being overqualified. I think it's great the University requires so many credits. What we want is for administrators to stop asking these questions. Don't act like you don't have the slightest idea of the problem's cause.

Frankly, we're tired of hearing that we're lazy, indifferent, uninvolved, etc (Hold on there. I almost started to whine. Caught myself just in time.)

I've already thought of what the administration will say to this. That this is not the cause of the problem because a student can take 18 or 21 credits if they want. They could even take winter or summer classes in order to graduate in four years.

Yes, that would solve the problem; however, many students change their major two or three times during their college careers. There is no room in the course of studies to change your major without losing credits.

Sometimes students don't change their major, but they would like to try something different to see what it's like. However, that class might not fill a general education requirement. If so, tough luck, don't take it or fall behind in your quest for credits.

Let's assume, that students do take 18 credits a semester and/or winter/summer sessions. Then comes the why aren't students involved on campus, and why are they so apathetic questions?

When you're taking 18 or 21 credits, you don't have lots of time to attend campus events, especially if you work. Now, I realize there are probably a few supermen and superwomen that can do it all-balance 18 credits, a part-time job, and campus events while still maintaining a 3.50 G.P.A. To you I say, "Way to go!" For the rest of us mere mortals, it's not that easy.

The students with the 18 credits or higher simply don't have time when a job becomes involved in the equation. Go to work to pay for college or go to campus events and not be able to pay for college. It's a tough choice.

This is probably a reason why a lot of students don't take winter or summer sessions. We have to work then in order to pay for college. Remember, a lot of us are going here because we can't afford much more.

Then they ask why are students not staying on campus over the weekend? It goes back to work and/or all the extra credits one has to take during the semester. By the weekend, many students just want to get out of here. They want to forget their troubles and goto where everybody knows your nameand they're always glad you cameyou want to go where everybody knows your name. Sorry, I just got a "Cheers" flashback. What I was saying is that students want to leave, forget about Monday's term paper, and party some.

It didn't take me long to figure out why college students party so hard. After a tough week of classes, we need to cut loose and really live it up even if it is for only a day or two. Listen to some of these credits requirements needed for different majors. Technology Education­129 credits; Music Major­129 credits; Biology Majors with Respiratory Therapy Option­(get ready for this one) 151 credits; Chemistry Major Secondary Education­138 credits; English Major Secondary Education­124 credits; Nursing Major­125 credits; Geology Major with Geophysics Option­126 credits; Physics Major Secondary Education­130 credits; and Special Education Major­126 credits.

Does anyone notice a pattern? These poor secondary education majors. Ask me, but I think a 151 credits is a little much. That sounds more like a six-year program than a four-year.

To sum things up, there is nothing wrong with being overqualified. In fact, that might give you an edge in the real world.

Administration, please don't play dumb not knowing why people aren't graduating in four years. The answer is fairly obvious. The reason students don't care and don't stick around is because they are too busy with class work, working to pay for that extra year or two of college, and/or partying to cut loose after a tough week.

- Afterward -
The administration seemed to take notice of this commentary. Several weeks after this column was printed, the University published it's "Guide to Graduating in Four Years." The points outlined in the pamphlet were very similar to the ones made in this commentary. It is very satisfying to see the University sitting up and paying attention to what is written from time to time even if they don't admit to it.

However, at one of The Snapper lunch-ins with President Joseph Caputo and Dr. Robert Thomas, Dr. Caputo informed me that on occasion, he will clip a story or commentary from the paper and send it to an administration member asking, "Why did The Snapper pick up on this problem before we did? Please address this immediately." Just another fine example of the power of the pen and of the press. Not to mention, the obvious fact Dr. Caputo is really a man of the students.