The University is at risk of becoming more and more divided—students are increasingly looking for spaces to collaborate, practice, hang out and share together. A residential college can be a home for some. But for most Yalies who belong to many different communities, the college system becomes less and less relevant. I chose to rush a frat so as to tie friend groups from all over campus—but more importantly—to find a physical home that we can all share and where we can all hang out, regardless of whichever college we’re from.
There is no doubt that the philosophy behind the college system is sound. Creating smaller communities within a larger entity is not only important, but also necessary, and Edward Harkness certainly realized this when he gave the initial funding to create the college system in the early 1930s. It’s no surprise that on tours of Yale, the college system is highlighted and displayed as one of the institution’s most unique and positive characteristics. And of course, as a freshman, having the backbone of my college community has been vital.
However, while the college system is still a hallmark of the institution, its current form is not sufficient for today’s Yalie. We live in an increasingly interconnected society, more easily allowing for friends that hail from all corners of campus. This might sound silly, but it simply wasn’t as easy for a Pierson student in the 1970s to stay connected with his or her friend from Timothy Dwight—I know I’ve sent more text messages at Yale than ever before in my life, simply in order to keep in touch with friends from various geographical areas of campus. But there aren’t a ton of places to meet up on campus; Bass Café at times feels like a campus center, but it’s not. It’s a library coffee shop that doubles as Yale’s makeshift student union.
I love Davenport, and it’s been vital to my happiness at Yale. But I don’t see it as the only space here conducive to community building and collaboration—I wish there were one central place available for students to meet. Instead, we need some sort of building or space where everyone is always welcome: a common area for the entire Yale community to utilize. There are very few spaces for student organizations to make use of for their events—using the college basements is challenging, since students don’t have universal swipe access. How many times a week do you have to let someone into your own college’s common room, so they can attend a meeting? Meanwhile, LC and WLH are overbooked, making scheduling meetings there unnecessarily burdensome.
Such a facility would not detract from the residential college system, but rather, enhance it. The colleges would still be there, but relationships across colleges would flourish, as there finally would be a physical spacewhere we could “chill out.” Obviously the Greek life system is not for everyone, but the people that I know who are involved in it joined out of a desire to find a common physical space. I believe it comes down to this: Yale has 12 beautiful common rooms, but it needs one.
The Administration and the Corporation have made it clear that University’s priority is building two new residential colleges, up Science Hill. Whether this is necessary or not, this will only further divide the campus, and make it harder to create a more unified Yale. With these new colleges, we run the risk of becoming a more siloed institution then ever before. If I want to meet up with my friends from TD, we get a meal together, usually at Berkeley (conveniently located—although it’s often packed). Students are looking for the center of campus, but aren’t finding it. Instead, there’s just a patch of grass, and a small library café. The college system was once the bedrock of this institution. It will always make Yale unique, and be a positive force on our culture. But it’s time for the administration to take advantage of the interconnected world in which we live, and create a space for all Yalies to call home.