I’m so frustrated. I’m frustrated with the administration, I’m frustrated with the student body and I’m frustrated with myself. What happened to RIT? What happened to our college education? Where is the RIT that moved from the city to Henrietta to better serve its students? Where is the RIT that protested the Vietnam War? Where is your outrage?
Where are our administrators? The Board of Trustees who swear they make decisions based on student needs? Has RIT ever talked to you about what you need? We got sold a polished, top-tier technical education, but the moment Friday afternoon hits, basic campus amenities shut down. You’ve heard of the dead internet theory — might I suggest a dead campus theory? Have you ever walked around here on a weekend? Why is nothing open? Why are there locks on the library classroom doors that students can’t open? Don’t we pay tuition?
It’s easy to fall comfortably into pessimism. College has a drawback: that four-year turnover. If you wait it out, the outrage dies, and apathy becomes the new normal. You may rightly protest that the current state is the direct fault of those who came before us, but it doesn’t alter the fact that change still has to start with you.
There is so much that can change for the better, so get involved. Anonymous complaints on Reddit and Fizz won’t fix campus culture. Showing up in person will. Real momentum starts with you, the student body. Talk to your professors. Show up to the boring meetings. Get a job at RITZ; get a job at Crossroads. Apply for artist positions to replace AI, and if there’s no posting, email them and offer your services anyway. Sitting behind a screen is no way to live. The apathy on this campus goes both ways. Even if RIT is shifting from a quirky nerd school into a corporate sellout, you still have to want something better for yourself. If it feels like no one else cares, care about yourself.
With all this talk about AI replacing us, where are the actual humans? Do the hard things yourself. Be the one to draw that club flyer! Be human. Be empathetic. Being aware can’t answer every question or fix all your problems, but it can help you equip the necessary tools to live the life you want to live. This edition is full of community stories and updates that can hopefully inspire you to get out there. From great programs happening in Rochester to changes in budget and policies, this month’s stories were curated by people who care. Positive or negative, use the emotions you feel to guide you — it’s what makes you special.
