Friday, March 21, 2025
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Transy Speaks 03/03/2022: Ukraine and Russia

Written by: Josie Grant and Kelsie Hughes

The purpose of Transy Speaks is to spur healthy conversations about important topics.

There are new topics every week, with open conversations between students within a round table discussion. Check Instagrams for new topics weekly! @transyspeaks

The topic of the evening was the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and Russia. Below are what Transy students had to say:

One important and recurring idea brought up during the discussion was how we in the U.S. tend to sympathize with those who look like us, and we tend to villainize and be unsympathetic to those who don’t. This could be a major factor that might tie into why the citizens of the US and other countries with similar cultures sympathize with Ukraine. It’s easier for the US to look at and care about atrocities in another democracy than when tragedies are happening in the Middle East. Because Ukraine is a white country it’s getting more traction and sympathy. Another idea that has been thrown around is that this dispute is getting more attention  because of the use of social media and the speed at which news is being relayed not only to news sources but to social media. However, during the Transy Speaks meeting students concluded that this discrepancy in treatment is not because of social media, and that there is a huge racial aspect. The norm is that “war is innate to other countries but not to Europeans”. We see European wars as holy or good wars, but other wars get demonized. 

Students who attended the meeting also criticized Putin’s actions and saw them as uncalculated and vengeful, but it has to be assumed that Putin has a larger plan and that he is not committing war crimes in an egoistic and megalomaniac manner. Putin became president in 2000 and he has purged his opponents where no one has enough power to go against him, he is controlling everything. Putin during his time as the president determines the basic direction of Russia’s domestic and foreign policy and represents the Russian state within the country and foreign affairs. Putin has transformed his time as President to be a dictatorship and running the idea of a federal republic to be an idea of fiction. 

There were many smaller things discussed during the meeting. Some of these things included how the United States cannot do anything to directly help Ukraine until a country in NATO is involved and we are doing what is right in regards to “winning the war”. Students also brought up what Countries are doing in alliance with Ukraine and one brought up was that the Netherlands expelled every Russian student from its country. The consensus on this was that this is a drastic measure for the Netherlands to take against Russia and how in the end this war will end up hurting the citizens and leaving those in power unharmed. The ghost of Kyiv was one of the last things discussed and this was seen by many students to be Ukrainian propaganda to show unity and strength among the country. 

Transy Speaks is a student-led and run organization that encourages open conversation among open-minded individuals. Students were respectful of all opinions and those in charge encouraged questions and let it be a conversation, opposed to a question and answer. Transy Speaks encourages students to come and be a part of the conversation for weekly conversations about differing topics.

Transy Women’s Basketball Advances to the Sweet Sixteen; Retains Perfect Record

On Saturday the 5th, the Transylvania Pioneers women’s basketball team defeated the Southern Virginia University Knights 77-55, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament, matching the best tournament performance in school history. The Pioneers also retain an undefeated record for the season, improving to 26-0. 

The first two rounds of the NCAA tournament were hosted in the Beck Center on March 4th and 5th. In the first round, the Pioneers faced the Washington and Jefferson University Presidents. The first half of the game saw the two teams both going on runs, but ultimately the Pioneers led 42-27 at halftime. While the Presidents were able to go on a run to start the third quarter, the Pioneers were able to make adjustments on defense and hold Washington and Jefferson to only 33% shooting from the floor for the rest of the game. The Pioneers ultimately won 69-52, with Madison Kellione leading the team in scoring with 20 points and Dasia Thornton achieving a double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

The Pioneers faced the Southern Virginia University Knights in the second round. Both teams traded blows through the first quarter, but the Pioneers began to pull away in the second, shooting over 50% from the field and going into the locker room up 38-24. The Pioneers put the game out of reach in the third quarter, at one point going on a 14-2 run and being up 29 points. At that point, all the Pioneers needed to do was manage the clock to eventually secure a 77-55 victory. Kennedi Stacy and Laken Ball lead the team in points, scoring 24 and 23 respectively. 

With this win, the Pioneers advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament, matching the best tournament performance in school history, which was another Sweet Sixteen run in 2019. They also preserve a perfect record for the season, improving to 26-0. 

Transylvania University is hosting the sectional semifinals and finals of the tournament on Friday, March 11th and Saturday, March 12th. The Pioneers face off against the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders in the semifinal on Friday at 6:30 P.M. in the Beck Center. The winner of that game would then face either the Springfield College Pride or the Trine University Thunder in the sectional final on Saturday at 6:00 P.M. in the Beck Center. Winner of the finals would have the opportunity to go to Pittsburgh and compete in the Final Four of the tournament.

 

David Wallace-Wells: The Unthinkable about the Uninhabitable

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On Wednesday, February 16th, David Wallace-Wells came to Transylvania University’s Carrick Theater to talk about his book “The Uninhabitable Earth Life After Warming”

Who is David Wallace-Wells?

David Wallace-Wells is a 39-year-old American climate journalist who was born and raised in New York City and is best known for his book The Uninhabitable Earth Life After Warming

At the beginning of his talk, he provided a disclaimer to the audience about his qualifications saying: while he is NOT an environmentalist, he has had many personal experiences with climate change that has changed his perspective on the topic. 

“I spent my life complacent from global warming and that it was happening very far from me” he explained, but has “spent the last couple years in a dizzy awakening”

What did he have to say?

Before David Wallace-Wells began, there was a speech from 21-year-old Liam who was a student of Dr. Brian Rich in First Year Seminar where they were able to read The Uninhabitable Earth Life After Warming. When Liam began to speak, it was abundantly clear that he was Australian. While in Dr. Rich’s class, his home of Australia, was suffering from wildfires and bushfires that killed approximately a billion animals and destroyed countless homes. These horrible conditions are directly related to the exploitation of fossil fuels.

When Wallace-Wells first came on stage, he began his talk by presenting the good news: he does not think that the Earth will actually become inhabitable for humankind on a timeline of decades or centuries that we as a current society will be a part of. Wallace-Wells’ talk soon became very sobering and the room began to have a thick layer of tension. He said that even if we as a society avoid the worst-case scenarios, that isn’t winning. We have already lost but the real question is: how much will we lose? 

He then says that we instead have to think about the REAL questions: How do we define habitability in the decades to come? What impacts will we endure? What will the burdens be for future generations? He begins to answer these questions by providing his three aspects that impact what the future will look like: The speed of change and momentum of effects of climate change, the speed of human response, and the speed of disorientation

Speed of change and momentum of effects of climate change:

Our current definition of climate change began during the Industrial Revolution and half of the emissions of burning fossil fuels have come from the last 30 years. Today, the planet is 1.2 or 1.3 degrees warmer than the start of the Industrial Revolution. This is not the work of many generations, just one: ours. We are just now finally beginning to see climate change, and we will write the story of the climate’s future whether we like it or not. 

If things keep going the way that they have been, large portions of the world with high populations will be hit hard and will lose half or more of economic growth. Just to name a few, croplands can be less productive at the end of the century, high levels of warming can double war, violence, and assaults, infectious diseases can worsen, wildfires fanned. 

Speed of human response:

Impacts only tell half the story, and human response will be the other. As awful as this future looks, those impacts are a reflection of our power over the climate. Society is still engaged in denial, but there has been a global political awakening. The age of climate denial is beginning to decline due to climate speakers who feel an obligation to show support for climate action. Choices can be made now and in the future to combat climate change and we can make different sets of choices, but change is disruptive and oftentimes a foreign concept.

Speed of disorientation:

Wallace-Wells thought the future would be more prosperous, but he doesn’t believe that anymore after seeing how the world has changed for the worse. Climate change can be overcome on a physical scale, but it’s not something that a lot of people care about. Also, prediction models of change are no longer something we can rely on, as “It’s a mistake to take to the bank these predictions”.

The Amazon rainforest has stopped absorbing carbon dioxide and has switched from a carbon sink to a carbon source and air pollution from fossil fuels kills 10 million people per year. Nature is a conceptual category. In the past few decades, nature has come to play a role in society: it shows our humility and our future and reminds us of what’s truly important.

Questions Asked by Audience Members

During his speech, audience members were encouraged to text their questions for Wallace-Wells to answer. This is what they had to say:*

  • How do you convince someone to care about the environment?

Well, this is a smaller problem than it used to be because the evidence is stronger for climate change and people are more concerned about climate than they were in the past. The big problem is complacency. 

  • How can we distinguish between greenwashing (empty promises) and actual clean corporations? 

This is not a question someone would have asked 5 years ago which is progress within itself. But, these corporations can’t get away with empty climate rhetoric forever. We have to be realistic. Are the pledges that are being made even possible?

  • How do you feel about nuclear power?

I am conflicted about it. I feel it is a bad idea to close nuclear plants running safely before we have the means to replace them safely. Plus, nuclear power is much more expensive than fossil fuels and it’s better to invest in renewables and not nuclear. That being said, people die every day from fossil fuels more than anyone has died from nuclear plant meltdowns.

*Answers and questions have been shortened for length/clarity and the information has been paraphrased

How did Students Respond?

After attending the event, I asked some students who were in attendance how they felt about David Wallace-Wells and his speech. Some chose to stay anonymous.

Josie Grant: “ Wallace-Wells brought up both emotional and logistical arguments to persuade the student body and other people in the audience to have an open and honest conversation about the effects of climate control and what we can do in our daily lives to make a difference”

Anonymous Student: “I loved what Wallace-Wells had to say! I’ve always been fascinated with climate change and it’s crazy to see how bad things really are.”

Anonymous Student: “His speech was so interesting in my opinion. The things he said were so raw and real. It was very eye-opening listening to him speak. He said things that I never would have thought about and problems I didn’t even know existed. I think I may buy a copy of his book!”

Round One of the Women’s Basketball Championship Preview

On Saturday February 26th, the Transylvania Pioneers women’s basketball team secured their fourth straight Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference title, defeating the Anderson University Ravens 81-51 in the championship game at the Beck Center. With this win, the pioneers kept their undefeated season alive, improving to a 13-0 conference record and a 24-0 overall record heading into the NCAA tournament. 

The Pioneers came into the tournament ranked Number 2 in the country, Number 1 in the HCAC, and had almost certainly clinched at least an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. They defeated the Manchester University Spartans in the first round 90-44, then defeated the Rose Hulman Institute of Technology Fighting Engineers in the semifinals 72-50. In the championship game against Anderson, the Pioneers started out on a 16-0 run and held the Ravens to only 7-24 shooting in the first half, giving them a 50-17 lead at the half, which the Pioneers were able to successfully hold on route to a 81-51 victory. Kennedi Stacy led the team in scoring with 21 points on 8-11 shooting in the first half alone and 24 points overall. Stacy was also named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, with both her and her teammate Madison Kellione also being named to the All-Tournament team. 

With this win, the Pioneers clinched their fourth consecutive conference title and an automatic qualification to the NCAA tournament. They also improved to a perfect 24-0 record for the season, with impressive wins at Number 7 Tufts University and vs. Number 3 John Carroll University. They are ranked Number 2 in the country by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association poll, only below the also-undefeated Christopher Newport University Captains. 

The Pioneers will take on Washington & Jefferson College in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Friday, March 4th at 6:30 P.M. in the Beck Center. Tickets are free for the first 100 students and 50 faculty members.

Don’t Give Up on Traveling Abroad: A Q&A with Tatianna Verswyvel

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Almost two years ago after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Transy was forced to bring home all students studying abroad and hasn’t been able to send anyone anywhere since. The current students here at Transy who have actually had the opportunity to study abroad are few and far between, while those who have had to push back their trips semester after semester seem to be easier to find. Tatianna Verswyvel is a senior here at Transy studying International Affairs who had the opportunity to study abroad in the Czech Republic the spring semester of her sophomore year before returning to the states in March. As discouraging as times like these can make us feel about the possibility of traveling abroad, Tatianna had some incredible things to say, both about her own experience, and advice towards those who are feeling defeated now.

How has the uncertainty of the last few years impacted your view of your experience abroad?

“The last two years have really put my brief time abroad into perspective, mainly because I haven’t felt as free or as spontaneous since I returned. There is an unprecedented amount of opportunity when you’re exploring a new city, meeting people that don’t share your same background, attending a new school. Perhaps even more than opportunity, I felt possibility. As cliche as it sounds, there was a sense that anything could happen. Now, when we have to keep our expectations low just in order to cope with the likelihood of disappointment, that feeling of possibility feels foreign. That’s what I miss the most and what I’m most thankful I got to experience before the world completely changed.”

Do you feel that your experience abroad has prepared you for graduation and your future plans?

“Despite the uncertainty that we live with today, my time abroad taught me that hard work is rewarded. I received a competitive federal scholarship that paid for that semester in full, an achievement which really enriched both my time abroad but also my overall confidence as a student and a person. In addition, excelling in my classes that semester at what is considered one of the best universities in Europe equipped me with confidence in my academic background and my overall preparedness to participate in the real world.”

At this point, would you encourage students to try and study abroad in college?

“Without a doubt, study abroad is something to put yourself out there for. I know it’s hard to rationalize in the current climate of uncertainty, but it really pays off. I’m not sure if studying abroad in the COVID era will provide the exact same sliver of magic that I feel lucky enough to have received, but it’s worth finding out. Most importantly, don’t be discouraged to travel for non-academic reasons. Most people whose study abroad plans keep falling through are due to their program’s dependence on institutional aid and thereby institutional guidelines, but traveling on one’s own is still very much a possibility.”

Knowing that students at Transy who have actually had the opportunity to study abroad are few and far between, what would your advice be to students who have had to keep pushing their semesters back?

“I don’t know whether this uncertainty is going away anytime soon, therefore I understand the emotional and mental strain that students in this position are undergoing. For this reason, I’d ask them to really evaluate their reasons for studying abroad and contemplate whether their goals can be met in different, albeit inferior ways. Like I said, traveling during COVID is not impossible. I spent two weeks in Europe this summer wearing masks and abiding by local restrictions and I still enjoyed myself. If your goal is to practice a second language, there are remarkable ways to do that remotely. If your goal is to meet new people or take classes that specialize in a subject/region that Transy doesn’t offer, there are ways to do that. To me, it’s worth exploring the possibility of studying abroad with a third party that does not answer to our federal and institutional guidelines, bearing in mind that your time abroad will probably not count towards the completion of your Transy degree. That’s likely what I would do if I were in that position. Last thing I would say is that there is no arbitrary deadline or age by which you MUST achieve your international goals. The world, as far as I know, will still be there when COVID subsides, and opportunities to participate in educational experiences abroad will not end once you’re out of college. People who claim that their biggest regret is not studying abroad in college, in my opinion, are not thinking big enough. As long as you set time and resources aside for these goals, they don’t have to have an expiration date.”

Studying abroad is a big part of the traditional college experience, and it is unfortunate that we continue to see this opportunity taken away from students due to the ongoing pandemic. Hopefully someday soon we will be able to see many students studying abroad and exploring the beautiful world we live in, but until then it’s important to keep our heads up.

An In-Depth Look at Darkened Doorsteps

*Trigger Warning: Discussion of sexual assault and suicide is present during this piece and the show*

This weekend, February 24-27th, plunge yourself into the world of Darkened Doorsteps. A play written by Transy junior, Scottie Gussler. I was lucky enough to get an interview with Scottie and talk about the writing process they went through as well as the process of seeing the show go from pen to paper and from paper to performance.

I started by asking Scottie how they went about beginning the writing process for Darkened Doorsteps. Scottie explained to me how they began writing plays in high school and discovered their passion for it. However, with Covid and stress on the rise, inspiration ran dry. 

Over this past summer, however, inspiration struck. Scottie explained to me how writer’s block was never really a problem for them since the show was free-flowing and inspiring. After countless, long nights clacking keyboard keys and spamming the space bar as well as the backspace key, a show was born. This show needed a name however, and Scottie was fresh out of ideas.

Scottie would show the play to close, trusted friends and colleagues looking for constructive criticism. Then, Transy Alumni, Eileen Bunch, read the show and stated after reading, “Don’t darken this doorstep.” An idiom that means that you do not want to see someone ever again. Scottie adapted this idiom and came up with the title, Darkened Doorsteps.

This show is completely student-made and performed. Scottie stated that the Theatre Guild was very helpful in making this show come to life. The show will also include an original soundtrack composed by Tammy Ray ‘23 and Ben Sexton ‘22.

Darkened Doorsteps is a surreal, emotional, captivating, and nostalgic feeling show. The theme of escapism is one of the main focuses the show was designed around. Escapism in the form of being able to leave a world of pain for just one second. This show allows the viewer to find a home in those who have had experiences and are willing to provide guidance to get you back on your feet. Scottie gave a very heartwarming quote, “Never let the harsh winter deter you from making it to summer. There is always more to live for.” Stating that if you are looking for your own escape then come see the show, Darkened Doorsteps.

In closing remarks, Scottie wanted to leave some words of advice for anyone wanting or even thinking of writing their own show: “No idea is a bad idea. It’s what makes your style yours. Draw from other sources but remember to be true to who you are. Send it to others who you trust and get their constructive criticism. And do not be afraid of opposition, everyone has their own opinions. You are allowed to take some critiques and not others. If they don’t help you, pitch them.” Scottie and everyone involved with Darkened Doorsteps are very excited to share this captivating theatre experience with you and can’t wait to see you there.

Showtimes Thursday – Saturday, Feb. 24-26 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m. in Little Theater.

 

The Kissing Tree: Transy’s Most Romantic Tradition

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It’s that time of year, fellow Pioneers. Love is in the air here on campus, but nowhere more prevalent than at the one and only Kissing Tree.

What is it about this tree that holds such a charm on lovers? Well, it all dates back to an old campus tradition. There was a time when PDA was much more frowned upon, especially by the faculty and staff. Virginia Bell, a Transylvania graduate of the 1944 class, recalls the tree as having “a spirit that gave permission for it to be okay to kiss in public.” Students would use this permission often, making the Kissing Tree a romantic hotspot. Miss Bell added, “The Kissing Tree experience must have worked well. I was married to Wayne Bell for 73 years,” referring to her Transy sweetheart Wayne Bell ‘40.

The tradition of the Kissing Tree is a sweet one, but over time it has lost its significance amongst the student body. As PDA has become more accepted by society, the need to use the kissing tree as a smooch-stop has begun to vanish altogether. 

That didn’t stop Bill Bowden from trying to revive the legend of a beloved landmark. Bill did not attend Transylvania, but Murray State University. He did not have any experience with the Kissing Tree as a student. However, in his time working as publications editor here at Transy from 1997-2013, he inevitably learned about the history of the tree. In 2006, he covered the new bench that was to be placed around the tree. It was during that time that he became a sucker for what the tree represented.

In order to preserve the tradition of the Kissing Tree, Bill pushed for a plaque to be placed by the tree, commemorating its story. Many trees on campus have plaques dedicated to alumni, professors, and other figures that deserved commemoration. However, the Kissing tree was missing any sort of dedication. “The Kissing Tree deserves a plaque,” said Bowden, and decided to make a change. Since he couldn’t receive funding from the school, Bowden paid for and wrote the version of the plaque that still resides by the tree. 

Ben and Chelsea after their graduation, 2015

Bowden’s efforts to preserve this tradition paid off, too. Ben and Chelsea Crosier, class of 2015, ended their first date at the Kissing Tree. The rest was history. They are still together to this day, and the Kissing Tree is still an important landmark of their relationship. They still visit the tree any time they’re on campus! Chelsea recalls part of the tradition being, “If you share your first kiss under the Kissing Tree, you’re destined to get married. It worked for us!” When asked if the Kissing Tree was a good spot for a date, Ben and Chelsea said it was great for sharing coffee, having a kiss, and making memories.

So, lovebirds, as you walk around campus, remember the magic that many have experienced at the kissing tree. Perhaps you can make a memory of your own!

Women’s Basketball Dominating Their Season: A Recap of Their Recent Game Against Manchester

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Transylvania’s women’s basketball team played Hanover college last Wednesday afternoon. Our bats won that game with a 64-36 score and dominated the court the entire game.

Another game where the women’s basketball team dominated was against Manchester. The Manchester game was scheduled for January 2nd at Manchester but got rescheduled here in our home court.

Our lady Pioneers had full court control of the ball the entire game which helped lead them to a 15 game winning streak for the 2021-2022 season. In the first quarter, they racked up 20 points with Manchester trailing with 11 points.

In the second quarter, the Pioneers were still leading and scored 16 points while Manchester still followed behind with 11. Coming back from halftime into the third quarter, the Pioneers still dominated scoring another 13 points with Manchester still behind.

Finally, we end the game scoring another 15 points, the defense applied pressure this quarter only allowing Manchester to get 4 points.

Our women’s Basketball team has played Manchester 12 times since 2016 and during that stretch we’ve only lost one game. That one game was lost by only 4 points. Apart from that one off-game, our ladies have dominated Manchester winning those other 11 games by at least 15 points.

One of the star players from this game was number 10 Grace Shope, a senior from Leesburg Ohio. In this game, Shope scored our Pioneers 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist. Our next star player is number 32 Laken Ball, a junior from Beckley, West Virginia. Ball dominated the court with 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists.

Our Pioneers look like they are on their way to dominating their next game on February 2nd against Franklin College on our home court.

Tickets are always free to students so make sure to keep your eye on their schedule because this is not a team you want to miss.

A New “It’s On Us” Chapter Forms on Campus

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*A quick disclaimer: trigger warnings for discussion of sexual assault and domestic abuse*

It’s On Us is an organization founded in 2014 as an initiative of the Obama-Biden White House. The mission of this group is to prevent sexual assault as well as to communicate that it is on all of us to have important conversations with one another on serious issues. Because its main target audience is college students, the initiative has presently been rejuvenated at Transy with the group’s sponsorship of a book club.

The It’s On Us book club will be holding meetings on the second Tuesday of every month. The spotlight of these meetings is about the novel, In the Dreamhouse, by Carmen Maria Machado. The book will be given to all members complimentary of joining the club. However, you do not have to join the club to receive a copy of the book. If you would like to read the novel, the It’s On Us book club just ask that you attend at least one meeting. Mainly because the goal of this club is to spread awareness as well as provide education for topics needing to be discussed.

This beautiful memoir follows Carmen, as she recalls her experience in an abusive same-sex relationship. Written in a very poetic way, this piece shines a light on the gremlin of abuse. This astounding piece of literature opens the mind to see that domestic abuse doesn’t just happen between a man and a woman. It can happen to anyone by anyone and that is why such a serious topic must be discussed.

The It’s On Us book club will allow students to openly discuss problems and issues revolving around sexual assault and domestic abuse while also having the necessary resources available to them if need be. One example of these resources will take the form of staff being at each meeting to assist with anything that arises. The book club will meet on the second Tuesday of every month with its first meeting being held on February 8th in the Hearth room located in the campus center. A last little note that I was told to include is that at every meeting there will be mandatory reporters present.

To further elaborate: It’s On Us to make tomorrow better, today.

Coming to Terms with the Closure of Gratz Perk

Welcome back to campus everyone!

I’m sure we are all excited to get back to doing what we all love to do at Transy. Like the in-person classes that we missed so much last year, creating strong relationships with faculty, staff and students, athletic practices, musical rehearsals, getting started on the winter theater production, hanging out with your friends in Gratz Perk… 

Wait, it seems that Gratz Perk will be closed for the entire semester. This closing came with severe disappointment from a lot of students on campus. For me, this means that I will no longer get the chance to see my friends during the day. Gratz Perk was the only place on campus where we could see each other after class and take a breather before our next one. 

I know a lot of people held this ceremony as well. Without that miniature study hall, I would imagine students will have trouble keeping up with their classes, especially if they have trouble doing homework in their dorm and don’t want to venture out in the cold to get to the library after classes or work.

Also, this closure means that there is now no coffee, I repeat, no coffee on the academic side of campus. While I totally understand that our campus is really only about two square blocks, and I’ve found that to walk to the other side takes no more than (on average) 10 minutes from Cowgil to the Campus Center. This is still an inconvenience for those students who have classes back to back and can’t make it to the campus center to grab a cup beforehand. Furthermore, the canned coffees that are intermittently in the vending machines in Cowgil and the Library cost real out-of-pocket money, and are not available in sugar-free options. The Starbucks coffee bottles and cans have about 30 grams of sugar in each, which is about as much as many sodas.

The post in Tnotes says the change is meant to “increase offerings to students and maintain safe distancing because of COVID”. Now I don’t know about you, but it doesn’t make much sense to me, that having us all eat in one building instead of two, would increase distancing. Especially since the seating options in Gratz Perk were a lot more spread out than the little concentration of chairs and tables in the grab-and-go area.

However, on the complete other side of this argument, I am very thankful to now have access to coffee and grab-and-go meals until 10 pm. I am sure this will come in handy for me at many points in the semester. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve needed coffee at 3:05 pm and Gratz Perk had just closed.

The only things that this change really hurts are that there is no longer the cozy coffee shop atmosphere to study and decompress in that we all have come to know and love, there is no way to get coffee on the academic side of campus that does not cost out-of-pocket money (or not full of sugar), and that the remodel that was done at the beginning of the school year has become a bit pointless.

While I am severely disappointed that my favorite place on campus is no longer available to me for my last year at Transy, I suppose the grab-and-go will be an okay compromise. I was just excited to return to my little booth each day and keep on my class – study/lunch – class schedule that I missed so much during our year online. 

Comment below your favorite places to hang out and study on campus, because I’m gonna need a new one.

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