"Tufts is falling in the rankings." "We are no longer a Top 25 school." "We are at risk of no longer being a Top 30 school." "Our alumni giving rate is pathetic."
This is what we constantly hear every year when the new college rankings come out. Some people think these rankings are the end of the world, but most people don't really care. It's just a number. Of course, we all know that the rankings are determined by silly guidelines that change every year; which allows a new number one school to be selected each year. Having the same list of schools each year would not sell too many copies of U.S. News and World Report. But that should not stop any of us from instituting positive change on this campus. All statistics can't be dirty lies, can they?
By no means should we completely focus on our ranking according to the U.S. News findings. We should take them into consideration, but remember that above all, what we do here is to cater to the students of Tufts University - not the researchers, writers, and editors of some magazine.
This is the perfect year to start making bold moves that will change the face of the University. First, this is the inaugural year for our new President, Larry Bacow. Students, professors, and administrators alike have expressed the feeling that our new president has the right type of attitude and spirit to take this University to new heights. He has obviously been in "sponge" mode for the last few months, taking in the vast amounts of information that have been directed his way. A better question is what he is going to do with that information. He has yet to be pressured into a situation that requires his immediate attention as well as action, but that will happen soon enough.
Equally important and tangentially tied to President Bacow's first year here is the fact that this is the 150th anniversary of our University. It is clear that the administration has made an effort to raise the stakes this year, demonstrated by the memorable Convocation ceremony for the freshmen during Orientation. Held in the Gantcher Arena, the event literally blew the freshmen away, as well as attending upper-classman who remembered a not-so-lively and explosive Convocation ceremony their freshmen year. When the fireworks and fiery "Class of 2005" sign finally faded away, attendees of the event were simply awestruck. An upperclassman made the comment that he better see "Michael Jackson doing the moonwalk" for graduation in response to the awesome display. "They better do the same thing for us as they did for them," he added.
And that is exactly what the University needs to do. Take the beautiful feeling that emanated within the crowd of almost 2,000 people last Wednesday night, and spread it throughout the entire year. Sprinkle just a little more flavor on every usual event that happens on this campus, from the Naked Quad Run (Re-instate the Pancake Breakfast? Hint, hint...) to spicing up Spring Fling. It would be nice to add one more event to our traditions at Tufts, and with a little financial aid from the Administration it could be possible. But then again, the Naked Quad Run is relatively cost-free, and with a little creative brainstorming, we could come up with an event that would be equally unique and special.
But our "moonwalking" endeavors certainly should not be limited to more large-scale social events on campus. The social scene, while very, very important, is only half the battle. We are here to get an education. There are plenty of non-social initiatives that must take place in order to fulfill some of the greater needs voiced by students in recent years. Those include, but are not limited to, improved classroom space, more on-campus and off-campus dining options, better phone and cable service, curricular diversification, etc. And of course, we are still concerned about the new dorm that the Trustees have promised. Please, if we are to build a new dorm, let's build one that this campus really needs - one with at least 300 beds.
The construction of a new Music and Performing Arts building has been a project on the horizon for some time now, and this should be the year to see some real progress on what has only been a vision thus far. There are countless other projects like the Music building that have only been a blip on the radar screen and nothing more. For some reason, at least in my three years here, the University has resisted making bold moves and choosing a direction that would make our school stand out in front of the rest of our "comparison schools." I was pleased to hear President Bacow mention the need to make "bold moves" in one of his many speeches during freshmen Orientation. So let's do that. This is possibly our best chance: a new President and new Administration.
The 150th anniversary will be yet another factor in making real progress and change at Tufts. And while it would be the greatest possible way to end my four years here, I don't think we are going to get Michael Jackson for Commencement. It would be great but highly improbable. However, it would be pretty damn cool if President Bacow and the rest of the Tufts Administration could do a little moonwalking this year.
