When asking students their feelings on Augustana, many have agreements-the Augie bubble is real. Our sense of community is close-knit yet suffocating. Our roughly 2500-student population contains its cliques, student groups, and small classes. Smaller than most colleges, you can’t help but rely on gossip to carry you through.
“It reminds me of high school,” one replied after I asked how Augustana felt to them. You can’t help but compare yourself to this sentiment. For me, Augustana is smaller than my high school. Choosing to go to a smaller school was never on my radar, but Augustana proved different. The positives? Smaller classes. Getting to say “hello” to everyone who passes by. The negatives? Word travels fast.
Now don’t get me wrong, this is not completely accurate, but, one secret to your friend seems to linger in the air. Perhaps someone overhears a private conversation, or someone chooses to gossip about something they noticed. Either way, students seem to locate and share stories quickly.
Augustana is not alone in this, but perhaps more prone to it due to its size. Groups melt into one another, students make their voices heard in many positive ways. Individuals have the opportunity to get to know different faculty and students through student groups. Augustana promotes a sense of belonging, but at what cost?
I’ve found a place where I feel safe. I belong to different groups that have helped me grow as a person and student. I have felt more secure in my identity, yet have trouble seeing this apply to all students. The Augie bubble may be tight but is selective in acceptance.
Augustana may have room to grow, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start now. The Augustana Student Worker Alliance has made an effort to push for a student union, to obtain better wages and a stronger sense of community. The Campus Kitchen has worked to provide students with free meals during Thanksgiving break through a menu selection via Google Forms. By promoting these causes, student groups have made strides toward building a better future.
My wish is for all Augie students to feel welcome. By pushing our groups to be accepting and willing to learn, we can build a strong future. Our Augie bubble has the potential to be something positive. What we hope to do with it, is up to us.