CLASS of 2012, I'm certainly not the first to tell you that your class is destined to be one of the most unique and defining of the University's long, cherished history. Nor will I be the last. Still, I might just be the first to sincerely believe it.
That's a bit cynical. Though it's a time-honored rhetorical duty for the faculty and administration to heap praise on the incoming students, no one denies that this year's bunch is exceptional. For starters, as the College, Engineering School, Architecture School and School of Nursing receive more and more applications each year, the admissions process becomes that much more competitive. So it would be no stretch to say that this is the smartest class in University history.
Nonetheless, it won't be academic merit that defines your class. No one doubts that each year the University graduates some truly brilliant individuals who we all are sure will change our world for the better. Your class will have more than its share of extraordinary scholars. As far as academics are concerned, the only advice I can offer you has been given a thousand times before: Go to class, try to stay awake throughout and don't procrastinate on the big assignments. Believe me, that's easier said than done, but you wouldn't have been delivered an acceptance letter if you couldn't handle these types of challenges. You will do just fine on that count.
Yet it's always those tricky, more intangible qualities that make each class unique, particularly as they relate to the vague, annoying question of "How did you guys contribute to the University and make it a better place?" You probably heard similar sentiments in one form or another during your high school graduation speeches. Luckily for you, it's been my experience that college provides much more in the way of diverse extracurricular offerings than high school ever did. No matter what your passion -- sports, visual art, music, journalism (hint, hint) -- or your particular skill level, there are already probably numerous organizations dedicated to it around Grounds. If not, new organizations can be registered and submitted for approval via the Student Activities Center's Web site. It's that easy.
So what are the unique circumstances that will make the Class of 2012 so different? There are quite a few, actually. You are the first group to enter without the option of early decision. This means that you were forced to sweat out your college fate through spring, unlike some of us who had the whole deal closed by December of our senior years. Even though this might have temporarily delayed your time enjoying senioritis (keyword: might), it also hopefully gave you a better opportunity to consider many great colleges in the process. I feel confident those choosing the University this year will be even more assured that this school is the best match for them than students from any year before. Furthermore, I hope that the end of early decision will be manifest in your class in the form of a more socioeconomically diverse student body.
Another major transition has begun with the Class of 2012: the end of first-year housing area preference. The Old Dorms/New Dorms tradition has been a seminal part of first-year life here for decades, so this was a huge step for the administration to take. While the policy can and has been debated heatedly, the intent is clear. The McCormick Road area had been the destination of choice for most white, fraternity- or sorority-bound students, while many out-of-staters, ethnic minorities and students disinterested in Greek life sought out the Alderman Road dorms. This has contributed to a more fragmented student body than would have existed otherwise.
None of this is meant to curb your enthusiasm about coming here in the fall. While excessive self-segregation has been viewed by many as a barrier that the University needs to overcome, I have serious doubts that any college, especially a diverse public institution such as our own, can claim to be completely without this phenomenon. I think it's a challenge that nearly every community on earth faces in some form or another. Still, within your class I see seeds of hope. Though it's unfortunate that first-years will no longer have their choice of residence area, it is my hope that the Class of 2012 will be the first group in a long march towards a more welcoming and socially-integrated environment. Cliques are the bane of any school, and we'd be doing well to have a few less of them around here.
With that said, kick off your shoes, Class of 2012. You've made it, and we all warmly welcome you to this vibrant community. Your time here will go by quickly, so live it up every chance you get. I look forward to seeing you at the USC game in August. You'll probably want to wear a shirt and tie or a dress and pearls. It'll be hot, but being better-dressed might be the only advantage we get in this one.
Ross Lawrence is a Cavalier Daily associate editor. He can be reached at rlawrence@cavalierdaily.com
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