Editorial: University a privilege, not a right
Issue date: 9/6/07 Section: Editorial/Opinion
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09/06/07 - Welcome to the University of Rhode Island and, for many of you, welcome back. Students should not take the education they receive at Rhode Island's only state university lightly. As President Robert L. Carothers is fond of saying, less than 1 percent of 1 percent of the world's population gets to attend college, so make the most of it.
Few locations in the world bring together such a diverse group of teachers, from experts in ticks to professors studying the humanities. Some of these people will become your lifelong teachers. The university is lucky to have world-renowned faculty such as Titanic-discoverer Bob Ballard, successful alumni such as CVS CEO Thomas Ryan and more than 15,000 aspiring students.
Almost all those students pay thousands of dollars a year for the honor to attend a higher education institution. Sadly, just 56 percent will graduate after six years here. About 44 percent will leave for a variety of reasons, whether it be financial, academic or personal. To increase that 56 percent there's much the university could do - ensuring enough seats in classes for one - but there's also a responsibly placed on the student.
College is, first and foremost, a place to learn. While socializing is a necessary part of life to maintain sanity, the library exists for a reason. There is a time for cracking those costly textbooks. For students who do fall behind for one reason or another, the university runs numerous support operations from the Academic Enhancement Center to the Counseling Center, both in Roosevelt.
The university also offers more than 1,200 acres of fields, walkways and buildings to stretch your legs between studying and the numerous coffee breaks. That said, the grounds should be respected. Littering not only reflects poorly on the university but its students as well. Plus, it hurts the environment and it's illegal.
Lastly, we hope that incoming freshmen enjoy some of the best years of their lives learning, making lifelong connections, and of course, reading The Good Five Cent Cigar.
Few locations in the world bring together such a diverse group of teachers, from experts in ticks to professors studying the humanities. Some of these people will become your lifelong teachers. The university is lucky to have world-renowned faculty such as Titanic-discoverer Bob Ballard, successful alumni such as CVS CEO Thomas Ryan and more than 15,000 aspiring students.
Almost all those students pay thousands of dollars a year for the honor to attend a higher education institution. Sadly, just 56 percent will graduate after six years here. About 44 percent will leave for a variety of reasons, whether it be financial, academic or personal. To increase that 56 percent there's much the university could do - ensuring enough seats in classes for one - but there's also a responsibly placed on the student.
College is, first and foremost, a place to learn. While socializing is a necessary part of life to maintain sanity, the library exists for a reason. There is a time for cracking those costly textbooks. For students who do fall behind for one reason or another, the university runs numerous support operations from the Academic Enhancement Center to the Counseling Center, both in Roosevelt.
The university also offers more than 1,200 acres of fields, walkways and buildings to stretch your legs between studying and the numerous coffee breaks. That said, the grounds should be respected. Littering not only reflects poorly on the university but its students as well. Plus, it hurts the environment and it's illegal.
Lastly, we hope that incoming freshmen enjoy some of the best years of their lives learning, making lifelong connections, and of course, reading The Good Five Cent Cigar.
