This Wednesday, I went to an event about not only the conception of and creation of West Campus housing, but also about some hidden treasures that most people don’t know about. Dr. Blalock’s explanation of how the completion of the West campus housing system was expensive because of the 2008 economic crash made me realize how many outside factors affect us students’ lives. Although we may think our dissatisfaction with something such as the limited housing available has to do with allocation of school funds and donations, it is more complex.  The price of steel, cement, and other building materials has a deep affect on how soon and how much buildings are made.

The tour at the end of the discussion made me realize how we students rarely think about what occurs behind the scenes. We enjoy the benefits of having food delivered every day for every meal without realizing how it gets here. I think this experience was very eye-opening. I feel like I know more about the day-to-day running of the school. This also makes me feel more included in the community. I also realized the school community includes not only the students, but the workmen who deliver our food, the dining and facilities staff. It also orients me to how outside factors affects the school in ways people might not see.