Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at CNU chapter.

Another year, another construction zone. By this time, you’ve probably noticed some changes on campus, like how the view from Reg’s to McMurran literally is just a construction fence as they have started the expansion process of our fanciest dining hall, and that half of our library is unusuable.

And, let’s not ignore the fact that our beloved (and by beloved, I mean creepy) birdman statue is no longer in its usual spot.. I think I saw from a Yak source that shall remain nameless that it’s been moved to behind the warehouse on East? Now all anyone has to look at when they walk to McMurran is the blue construction fence and the “Danger!” signs plastered all over it. Er, I don’t mean Birdman.. What’s the name for it again? “Francis”-something? Someone help me out here…

I really don’t think I have to try and explain how weird it is to not be able to walk to the back of the library to do school work. At the end of last semester, I told myself that I’d be living in the library because I found being there helped me do my work more (not being near my bed to have the thought to sleep was a huge plus), and then I heard that the Collections section (or “Stacks” as a majority of my friends and I call it) was closed. To top it off, there are signs everywhere talking about it being closed.. As if I didn’t need a reminder that it’s going to be *that* more difficult to find a place to sit and do homework without annoying people – or them annoying me.

I mean, they moved some of the tables & cubbies to the Freeman. Innovative, sure, but no one really wants to study in the Freeman where they don’t have access to coffee. Sure, maybe the gym (is CNU subliminally sending us a message that we need to be academically & physically fit?), but definitely not coffee.

And, the last I checked, the alumni house isn’t even finished.

I know this seems like I’m complaining – I mean, I do that a lot, so would you expect anything less? – but I also realize that sacrifices have to be made to achieve greatness. Sure, maybe for my last two years here at CNU I won’t get to use the stacks, but at least I can look back and say after the final product is unveiled, “I got to see this whole process happen.” I will get to endure the sounds of construction as I spin tens of milkshakes, but I will get to look at it after I graduate and feel even more pride in my university than I did before.

So, endure the construction, Captains, because it’s all worth it.

You can categorize Royall as either Leslie Knope when she has her color-coded binders: or Hyde whenever Jackie comes into a room before they start dating: There is no in-between.  Royall recently graduated with her B.A. in Sociology & Anthropology from CNU and now studies Government & International Relations at Regent University. She also serves as the Victim Advocate and Community Outreach Coordinator for Isle of Wight Co., VA in Victim Witness Services. Within Her Campus, she served as a Chapter Writer for CNU for one year, a Campus Expansion Assistant for a semester, Campus Correspondent for two years, and is in the middle of her second semester as a Chapter Advisor.  You can find her in the corner of a subway-tiled coffee shop somewhere, investigating identity experiences of members of Black Greek Letter Organizations at Primarily White Institutions as well as public perceptions of migrants and refugees. Or fantasizing about ziplining arcoss the French Alps.