NYC students are feeling the cold around campus

Despite being located in the heart of one the world's greatest cities, the University's NYC campus has been less than welcoming for some members of its community—or lack thereof. Whether this feeling is a result of the fact that the University has two separate campuses or the mere location of its facilities within the hustle and bustle atmosphere of Manhattan's Financial District, there seems to be a consensus that something is missing from One Pace Plaza.

Although the downtown area is surrounded by New York City landmarks—the Brooklyn Bridge, City Hall and Ground Zero are all just a stone's throw away—almost all of the traditional features one might find at any other American college campus are simply not there.

There is no law n to sprawl on in the event of a beautiful day. While the University does have a fairly successful athletics program, all of the teams are based out of the Westchester campus, which offers little opportunity for Manhattan students to congregate or socialize at any University-sanctioned athletic events.

Additionally, the dormitories that house students are sprawled across the city in various locations, restricting student interaction.

"I haven't met a lot of people from Pace due in part to the dorm I lived in last year," junior Dan Corton said. Corton was housed in Harlem last year, as his 97th Street dorm was a far cry from what he imagined when he signed up for housing.

Though the University has since discontinued their share of dorms at the 97th street location, students who lived there are feeling the reverberating effects. "With all the other schools that were housed there, I felt like I didn't really need to meet a lot of Pace kids when I was surrounded by others where I lived." Corton now lives in an off-campus apartment, and said it is somewhat of a relief from his dorm experience. "I enjoy having my own freedom in an apartment that isn't owned by Pace."

Other students have even found the University's administrative offices to be very unhelpful and at times unwelcoming when their assistance was sought out. "In my experiences, both the financial aid and the Office of Student Assistance (OSA) offices were very rude," junior Heather Mayo said. Mayo, a transfer student from Gateway Community College, came to the University last fall to earn a degree in biology.

After just one year, she is planning to transfer once again at the conclusion of this semester, citing a lacking sense of belonging that she received in her short time at the University in addition to the unwillingness to help on behalf of the University's offices.

"As a new student I really didn't appreciate the lack of support that they offered me, it seems there is more of an individual effort on all levels, including the student body," Mayo said.

While there are those who denounce the University's efforts to provide an enjoyable atmosphere to all, some students say they feel right at home. "I feel that Pace is a close knit community," junior Iain Wynter-Stoner said. "It feels almost like a small town to me, there is an opportunity for everyone and if students choose not to take part then they probably will find Pace to be an ‘anti social' school."

What the Manhattan campus lacks in the more traditional aspects of college life, it makes up for with the wide array of student organizations that are open to any student that wishes to join. The University's Web site lists over 75 different student organizations that are available to NYC campus students, including academic, cultural, entertainment, religious and political groups.

Although organizations like these provide a means of meeting new people and finding the right group of friends, others feel there are much more practical ways of bringing students together. "As most Pace students are commuters, it's difficult to rally people to indulge in a common interest," junior Mihir Kelkar said. "I think it'd be more advantageous if they'd just get straight to the point.

"For instance, everybody loves free food; it brings students to the Student Union all the time. Why not sponsor more events like those?" Albeit an expensive idea, Kelkar presents very valid points in that the student body is abuzz anytime there is an event, which provides free food to financially strained college students.

Though being located in a large city does present its drawbacks when trying to make a University one's home away from home, there can be an attainable middle ground at an affordable price if students attempt to apply themselves a little better socially. Whether it provides a strong sense of community or not, the Manhattan campus is here to stay. Make it your own, any way you have to.