One of the many reasons why I love Park University is because I feel at home here.
The smaller campus and classes gives me a sense of community and pride for the school I attend. But I also think our small community may be an obstacle for Park. The lines can blur between students and the people who choose to work here.
With a small community such as ours it makes it hard to draw lines between the students, faculty, staff and even alumni. I believe these lines need to be there and upheld to keep the reputation and respectability of this school intact.
I know many of the employees of Park University are former students, which makes the line even harder to keep clear, and many employees’ children attend the university as well. I am all for legacies and keeping this school full of people who have a connection to the past of Park University. But that’s just what it is – the past.
When a student leaves a university or college they become an alumni, and Park alumni are some of the most dedicated I have ever met. I love the outpouring of sup- port that comes from them in the forms of donations to the school, attendance at sporting events, and even help with building our futures by returning to Park as faculty and staff.
But what I see happening is a lack of disconnection between students and the wonderful faculty and staff we have at Park.
I am a firm believer that students should be able to trust and relate with employees of Park University on some level but I don’t believe that employees should immerse themselves in the lives of students beyond a reasonable and respectable, professional relationship.
I love the staff I personally get to work with at my work study job, but we still maintain a professional relationship.
I am treated with respect just like the other employees at the office but at the same time I am still a student so we leave it there with a “Good-bye, I’ll see you tomorrow”.
I can understand how hard it can be to let go of the student mentality when working at university — I used to work with teenagers when I was a freshman, so I get it.
In my opinion, there should be no “hanging out” with current students, dat- ing, or anything else you would do with your friends especially with the drama and “Chatty Kathiness” that comes with being young and in college.
I love my university and want to see nothing but pure happiness for the students who go here, the staff and the faculty that work here and the alumni who came before me.
But at the same time I think that happiness is also bound with how we carry ourselves at Park University.
Let’s keep things professional and respectable so the future generations of students who come here know they are not only getting a great education but one they can be proud of.
As a soon to be alumni I want to be proud of my alma mater and the future it has given me without the shadows of any- thing unbecoming of a school. Go Pirates!
