The price of higher education is a cost heavy on many students' minds. At Ithaca College, the cost of tuition, room and board and other fees totals $75,013. Because of this price, a majority of students rely on financial aid in pursuit of their degree. However, recent changes to the billing system makes the college even more financially inaccessible to students.
Ithaca College prides itself on being a residential college. However, this translates to students being required to live on campus for at least three years before moving off campus. While in an ideal world, this may result in fostering community, the realities of on-campus housing are less than ideal.
When some think of art, they may think of big, prestigious museums or theaters with expensive entry fees and Eurocentric works. While those spaces may serve a purpose in the art world, local artistic spaces are just as, if not more, important, especially when it comes to promoting accessibility in the arts.
In an ideal world, a college campus is an environment that signifies progress and change. It is a space where like-minded young people are able to learn, grow and express what they believe. At Ithaca College, advocacy has always been a vital part of the campus community. However, it is not solely up to students to push for change. It is also the administration's responsibility to hear students' demands and respond with effective action.
Food insecurity is a global issue that impacts countless communities. According to Feeding America, 14% of Tompkins County is food insecure, affecting 14,500 individuals. It is essential that resources go toward addressing this pressing issue.
College should be a center for education and innovation. While this happens inside classrooms, learning has the potential to be limitless when there is an investment in relevant, accessible and large-scale programming.
For many students across campus, faith is a central part of their daily life, identity and being. Muller Chapel has the potential to act as a space for growing this faith. Furthermore, it should be a space for students to gain a sense of community and comfort, no matter what they believe. The college must continue to invest in programming for all faiths at Muller Chapel to create a stronger sense of community and acceptance on campus.
The First Generation and MLK Scholar programs have recently merged with the BIPOC Unity Center given the overlapping identities and events between these programs. While this has the potential to be beneficial and allow for more stream-lined, efficient programming, the center must ensure that it also maintains a nuanced perspective when it comes to supporting students, especially students of color.
It is essential that the college provides these students with real-world, clinical experiences in a way that also benefits the college community as a whole.
This semester, there are few restrictions in place at Ithaca College to control the spread of COVID-19. This lack of clear regulations lends itself to a campus that is at high risk for both COVID-19, and...