Column: Freshman programs make upperclassmen second-class

When I was younger, I would often dream of getting to do all of the things the ‘big kids' got to do. First it was stay up later, then play those 13-and-older video games, get a driver's license, go out with friends, and so on. All of these things came with age and responsibility, and that is how I understood them. So, for me, the world was all about attaining these things through patience, life experience, and proving I was worthy of taking them on.

This was no different for me, and many other freshmen, when it came to attending A&M-Commerce. I stayed in Berry Hall, which, let's be honest, is not the highest quality residential facility. But I went there because I thought ‘This is where I'm supposed to be. I'm a freshman, things will improve.' It was the same with academic advising. At first, I wasn't sure how to handle it, but I knew after a few semesters this person I was talking with would have an understanding of my educational path and all would become more comfortable.

Yet, I sit here now as a junior, seeing what this new crop of freshmen have at their disposal, and I can't help but wonder if they are even remotely close to understanding what it is like to not have things spoon-fed to them.

Now it seems this university is treating incoming freshmen like they are the solitary life-blood of A&M-Commerce. The entire academic advising system, MY entire academic advising system, was uprooted to make way for a new order that only provides the ultimate benefits to new and incoming students, people who have spent less time and done less at this university than I and many other upperclassmen have done.

Then, A&M-Commerce decided to give the freshmen Whitley Hall, forcing upperclassmen to spend their semesters in the West Halls, Smith Hall, or even Berry again. Am I grateful to have residential halls to live in? Sure I am, and they allow me to enjoy the college experience. But the principle of taking one of the nicer residence halls and giving it to brand new students whose only action toward becoming a Lion has been to sign a dotted line is one upperclassmen cannot ignore.

On the contrary, I feel we (the sophomores, juniors, seniors, and even graduate students) must see it, and the complete dismantling of our advising services to nothing more than a skeleton, both for what they are: inequality. It appears the university has taken an attitude of preferential treatment when it comes to bringing in new students, and this policy has an increasingly nasty side-affect: upper class equals second-class.

It is, of course, easy to see why our university would take such a stance. New students mean new money, while we, the already established students, are apparently considered ‘old reliable.' We are already here and expected to stay here and continue the stream of cash flow A&M-Commerce relies on.

Perhaps our university has forgotten we are not on a ball-and-chain. In fact, any mass exodus of upperclassmen from A&M-Commerce would surely cause a damaging effect to this university's well-being. The attitude of those responsible for enrollment, and the continuation of those numbers, seems to disregard the fact that this power exists in the hands of hardworking, established A&M-Commerce students.

Now, I'm not saying this spring will be the last A&M-Commerce ever sees of me. In fact, other than this glaring issue of equality, I'm quite happy here. But, perhaps it is time for this university to be reminded of just how valuable all of their students are, regardless of classification. If not, this current path will only serve to isolate upperclassmen and continue to reduce them to nothing more than second-class citizens in the eyes of our administration.