School spirit down after budget and class cuts over the years
By: Kavahn Mansouri
-Editor In Chief-
Year after year, cut after cut, students find themselves struggling to understand what Meramec as a campus stands for. Students come to school, go to class and more often then not, leave. Since the beginning, Meramec has offered its students a diverse campus life despite its commuter label. Not even a year ago the quad would be filled with students enjoying what the school had to offer, a community, while now the quad is often empty and lifeless. What happened to Meramec? When did we lose the Magic?
Over the years the campus has gone through a lot of changes. Through tight financial times, necessary budget cuts have been made to ensure the campus sustains itself. When do we stand up and debate what is necessary? Almost three years ago when Vice President of Student Affairs Stephen Peterson was fired the campus went into an uproar. A year ago when Meramec sports were downsized and combined to district-wide teams we heard a dull roar from the community. Finally this year, when classes were cancelled students were left to face the lines of Clark Hall, while honors courses were cut almost completely and teachers were forced to pick up last minute classes just to make semester load; we heard next to nothing.
Meramec is a special place. It always has been and always will be. But as the months go by the sparkle Meramec offers dims. The college continues to lose its shine through compromises, budgeting and business tactics. We, as students, are left to ponder when STLCC will draw the line. Is STLCC a business or a education system? Lately, it feels more like a business. So instead of cutting our already gouged departments, leaving our athletic fields in disrepair and giving the shaft to students, Meramec should take some steps in the right direction. Fund athletics, give us our classes, revive our programs and allow our teachers the opportunity to instruct us. STLCC does not have to be a corporation. This district used to be about the students. Were things so bad back then that they needed to change?
What must be kept in mind is that financial hardships are the catalyst for a lot of the change around campus. Necessary cuts are understandable, but where do the cuts stop? What departments will be left alone and which will face the cuts? It is questions like these that must be asked and answered, and not only for Meramec, but nationally. The slashing of opportunity must end.
We could point the finger of blame in all directions, but at the end of the day there is no one to blame but ourselves. As inhabitants of Meramec and students of STLCC we have the duty to ensure future students the same experience we were offered at Meramec. We have to be the people who stand up during Board of Trustee meetings, speak out at administrative forums to voice our concerns and say we are not going to take this anymore. Our classes have been cancelled, our sports abducted and our school spirit shape-shifted into a district-wide, poor excuse for a community feel. Inhabitants of Meramec, stand up for your school. This is our community. Stand up for Meramec, and I bet you will find that there is still a little magic left in this campus.
