Isolation a problem at UA

By Nathan James

Everyone has seen at least one film or television show centered on college life. According to these media, college is a nonstop cascade of friends, enemies, romances and drama. Undergrads may find themselves overwhelmed but never alone.

Unfortunately, the realities of college life aren’t always so glamorous. Everyone knows a student who seals themselves in their dorm and plays video games late into the night, emerging only to attend class and begin the cycle anew. Everyone has heard about the “phantom roommate” who never speaks to his cohabitants, spending his time in silence with his bedroom door shut and locked. And even though we belong to a campus of over 30,000, we’ve all heard the same tired conversations about how there’s nothing to do, nowhere to go, no one to see.

The fact is not everyone is living the collegiate dream promised by movies like “Animal House.” Because of emerging trends in modern culture, the difficulties of the transition from high school to college and several variables that are specific to UA, social isolation is a legitimate issue at our University.

First of all, the difficulties inherent in the transition to college are numerous and drastic. Incoming freshmen are separated from their families likely for the first time, and out-of-state students are completely uprooted from their peers and hometowns.

Furthermore, students who come from small towns or high schools may find themselves lost at a campus with tens of thousands of students. If efforts aren’t made to integrate new students, this can result in large numbers of freshmen with no connections to the college and no idea how to form any.

Another problem can be found in the changing nature of media and entertainment. Whereas college students in recent decades could go to a theater, concert or library to access entertainment, students of today have Netflix, iTunes, YouTube and a plethora of other sites. The Internet in general, and digital distribution in particular, have eliminated the need for students to leave their dorms to access media. What this does is create a crutch for socially isolated students, allowing them to keep themselves occupied without forming healthy interpersonal connections.

And there are factors specific to the University of Alabama that contribute to social isolation. Many residence communities at UA have a compartmentalized “apartment-style” layout that separates residents from their roommates. This, combined with a lack of community events in the halls, has created an atmosphere of palpable solitude in many dorms. Anyone who doubts these conditions isolate students should ask a random Honors student to name his or her neighbors — many simply can’t do it. Furthermore, at a renowned party school, students who choose to abstain from alcohol may find themselves with severely limited social options.

What can be done about social isolation at UA? Events like Get on Board Day and Adam LoDolce’s April 11 presentation, called “Being Alone Sucks,” are a good start. However, there’s a lot more that can be accomplished by the University and student body. UA administrators, for starters, can take a more active role in planning events and awareness campaigns that will help new students find their niche. Everyone else can stay active in clubs and activities, ensuring the strength and closeness of UA’s undergraduate community.

It’s perhaps most important to remember that not all stereotypes about college life are true, and not everyone you meet is having an easy time finding where they belong. Like many problems, isolation is one that is perhaps best solved through compassion.

Nathan James is a freshman majoring in public relations.