Time have changed

When I originally went to college at Western Kentucky University in the early 1990's, the student center was a hub of activity. The first time I walked into the Student Center at the University of Kentucky, I knew times had changed.

There were some similarities to my previous experience. A constant stream of students going in and out of the building, people meeting and eating, an common area with pool tables, and a busy bookstore were present in both. Student organizations meet and have social and fundraising activities. Students study in the common areas.

It is the differences that strike me so profoundly and that has more to do with the students than the building itself. At WKU, the common areas were always crowded. At times it seemed more like you were waiting in line at the hottest nightclub instead of waiting for a seat to watch the big screen television that was setup in the middle of the fourth floor. I also remember the noise. It was loud even at 9 am. During my previous experience, cell phones were not common and "iPods" required a cassette or cd. Everywhere I look now, people have white cords hanging from their ears. Students walk in groups but are isolated, or maybe the more accurately insulated, from the world around them. The halls are quiet other than the shuffling of feet and the occasional hushed conversation. I didn't expect the Student Center to feel like a library.

I have more exploring to do and I admit that I hope to find some of the excitement from my memories that I find missing in my current reality.