A Parental Perspective on Florida State University

If you have been on Florida State University’s campus at all this summer, then you have probably noticed something on our campus that is not usually there in such abundance. These foreign beings of which I speak are parents and they are here with their children, and future FSU Seminoles, for Orientation. They stick out like sore thumbs among the students here for summer classes. The lanyards hung around their necks do not exactly help them blend in either.

Image via fsunews.com

I first noticed the invasion while trying to find parking on campus. When the garages were completely full at times when they would normally be only half full, I knew something was up. After finally finding a spot on the top floor, I headed to class, only to pass about two or three-dozen parents on the way. After overcoming the frustration of having to share the little bit of parking that is available to students with parents, I realized that this would be a great opportunity to get a fresh perspective of the campus that I have grown to love over the past four years.

Over the last week, I have conversed with some of these parents around campus and collected statements about FSU and its campus from them. I was surprised by how similar the concerns of the parents, many of who were seeing the campus for the first time, are to that of the students that have been on campus for a few years now.

Image via fsunews.com

One of the first parents that I interviewed, Hector Gonzalez from Davie, Fl., brought up the difficulty to find student parking, particularly in the Woodward Garage. Mr. Gonzalez said that,

“The design of Woodward Garage is ridiculous. There is only one way to navigate this garage, which causes major backup within the garage. If it is like this in the summer, I cannot even imagine what it is like in the fall or spring. On top of that, there is a whole first floor reserved for teachers but only about half the spots were being used.”

Another common complaint that I got from the parents regarded the construction sites on campus. Currently, there are more than three areas on campus that are having construction done to them.

Image via Tallahassee Democrat

Jesse Miller from Pensacola, Fl. said that, “the construction is not only an eye sore, but it also causes some of the roads to narrow to less than two car widths, making driving on these roads quite dangerous.” She mentioned one spot in particular that she was almost side swiped on, which was by the traditions garage. Major construction on a new dormitory is being done right there, causing stressful situations during high traffic time. I too have had some close calls around that area.

While I did get a good amount of complaints from people, the majority praised FSU for its “stunningly beautiful” campus.  Nicole Silverstein, a parent from Jupiter, Fl., told me that,

“[She] just came from visiting UCF and the campus cannot hold a candle to that of FSU. UCF’s campus is very modern and feels cold, while FSU’s campus is very warm and open feeling. The numerous brick buildings encompassing FSU’s campus add immense beauty and make this campus feel like what I think a university’s campus should feel like.”

Image via fsu.edu

While bowling at Crenshaw Lanes in Oglesby Union, I noticed a group of fathers who had snuck away from their orientation meeting. It was clear that these guys were no strangers to a bowling alley, throwing strike after strike after strike. I decided to talk to these guys and learned that they are a group of friends from Atlanta, Ga.  whose children played on the same high school bowling team and are attending FSU together.

One of the fathers joked that, “[their] sons are going to FSU mainly because they have a bowling alley right on campus.” Of course there are many other reasons why their children are going to attend FSU in the fall, but the bowling alley was definitely a selling point for me as well.

Image via vebidoo.com

As I was walking out of class one day, I saw someone sprinting in front of the Bellamy Building heading towards the union. I thought nothing of it until I got to the Woodward Garage and saw the man bent over with his hand on his knees, breathing heavily, and his orientation lanyard hanging from his neck.

I asked him if he was ok and in between heavy gasps for air, he said, “four minutes.” Having no idea what he was talking about, I asked him, “what is four minutes?” He responded, “how long it takes to get from one side of the campus to the other while sprinting. I’m mapping out how long it will take my daughter to get to classes. Four minutes sprinting. Six minutes running. Eight minutes jogging. Fifteen minutes walking.”

Image via wikimedia.org

I was astounded by this father’s dedication to his daughter’s campus life, but then I started thinking about when my mother came to orientation for me and how bored she was with it. Like her, this father was probably just trying to find anything to take his mind off of the boring event that is orientation.

I was happy to get these fresh perspectives on FSU’s campus because after living on it for four years, a person grows accustom to the beauty surroundings him and forgets to take advantage of the aspects of life that can only be found in a college town.