Concordiensis

Issue date: 10/8/09 Section: Opinions

Media Credit: Alexis Smith Front Gates of Union College. Should we limit entrance?

To the untrained eye, Union College looks to be the gem of Schenectady. The style and architectural beauty of many of Union's buildings is not readily mimicked in the surrounding area nor does Union seem as depressed as many of the mom and pop shops lining the main roads.

Its history of prestige and riches simultaneously grew with the city until its demise when General Electric moved its headquarters out and all of its factory jobs along with it. What was once the Electric City now became a struggling community - with Union College at its center. It is true that Schenectady has taken a beating in recent decades, but that is not to say that Union should close its doors to this city in transition, when it needs us the most.

In 1999 former Union College President Roger Hull created an organization called Schenectady 2000, whose goal was to revitalize Schenectady with the help of Union and its students. A quote from then, Schenectady Mayor Al Jurczynski, "Union was always like the Vatican in Rome, a city isolated within the city." Is this the image that we as a community want to give off to the rest of society?

Yes, we are a private, liberal arts institution with centuries of positive recognition, but that does not mean that we must hold ourselves to shallow morals. Instead of keeping our noses in the air so as to not see the city locals that stroll our campus sidewalks, I plead that we embrace the city of Schenectady and all that it has to offer us.

If safety on campus is a concern, there are many ways to ensure your safety and put your mind at ease. The campus trolley system, escort service, blue lights stationed all over campus, and of course, our fully capable campus safety officers, are all here to serve the students and make sure that we all feel safe and at home.

Closing the gates to campus from the outside world would continue to give Union a hoity-toity perception to the surrounding residents. As Hull plotted 10 years ago, we must embrace Schenectady and its residents. This is our home away from home and we can either treat it like a lost city or open ourselves up to the world and experience reality.

No matter what college campus you stumble upon, there will always need to be careful precautions taken to make certain that you remain safe. These simple actions will undoubtedly become second nature and your time spent here will not be riddled with hesitation. Union is not a place where you should feel scared, but closing ourselves off to the community at large is not an option either. They need us just as much as we need them and together, we will be able to live as one under a garnet colored sky.

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