Compiled by The Gettysburgian’s Editorial Board
Lack of Amenities
As Gettysburg college students begin looking at their housing options, they are most likely finding a lack of amenities that are either not there or inaccessible or far away. There are far too many residential areas on campus that are not equipped with their own appliances. Like many students, I have experienced the frustration of needing to go across the street or down a few flights of stairs to clean my clothes and do my laundry. Moreover, there is a lack of kitchen/cooking areas for students to learn and experience how to prepare their own food. Both my first-year residence hall and my sophomore theme housing lacked a kitchen, and I regretted not being able to make my own healthy meals instead of microwave ramen. Learning to cook meals and cultivating important planning skills that come with having access to a kitchen are limited to students who obtain housing with those specific appliances, which sometimes only comes after sophomore year. Moreover, in real life, most people would not find such a lack of washers/dryers, kitchens, or even drinking water in their own homes. Most students on campus use a Britta, faucet filter, or buy unfunded plastic packaged water. It could be good for Gettysburg to implement more appliances in residence halls and housing, especially at the rate that the college charges students for room and board.
— Emma Blackman ’25
Who Else Was Promised Zipcars?
Post coronavirus Gettysburg College looks almost like it did in fall 2019, but there is something missing from campus that everyone has seemingly forgotten about – Zipcars, and its time Gettysburg brings them back. Zipcar was a carshare service that had two cars on Gettysburg’s campus. Students could join the service for a $15 annual student fee, and through the app, schedule a time to rent one of the vehicles for approximately $10/hr. The Zipcar company also provided an in-car debit card to refill the vehicle’s gas. For students without access to their own cars, this was the best way for them to run errands. Gone were the days of the obnoxious half hour Rabbit Transit bus rides to Walmart, awkward bus transfers to return to campus, or asking friends for rides. Students simply placed a reservation and drove on their own time. Not only was this a significant time saver, but it also opened up parking spots as first-years relied more heavily on this system than pining for a parking pass. If Gettysburg College really wants to make transportation easier and show they care about their lower income students, they will reinstate Zipcars.
— Brandon Caban ’23
Save Money, Make Cotton Candy
The College always seems to be finding new ways to entertain students and provide some short solace from the droll of everyday life. Bingo, plant potting, and other assorted activies all require OSAGL to tap into its already too small budget. With the weather changing and students emerging from their winter dorm-bernation, OSAGL should take a new stance. Just as they did during GettysburgGives, utilize the cotton candy machine, snow cone machine, and sound system and set up cornhole and frisbee on Stine Lake. It is an automatic atmosphere and mood booster, is easy to staff, allows students to come and go as they please, and the only cost to OSAGL is sugar and ice. Dear Jon Allen, keep it simple and keep it sweet. Once a week, turn Stine Lake into a mini carnival and turn up the music. The students will thank you (and so will your wallet).
— Dominic DiLuzio ’26
Let Them Dogs Out
This campus undergoes a magical transformation once a year, when the temperatures suddenly rise to a sweet 65 degrees and students reemerge from their dormitory cocoons. Frisbees on Stine Lake, Adirondacks in front of Penn Hall, and a swarm of students on the CUB patio all welcome Spring to campus. But the best part, without question, is the number of dogs who come to visit. From Dr. Isherwood’s famous Bertie, or that strange wiener dog/lab hybrid, the return of the dogs is an event which every Gettysburgian looks forward to. Their presence is good for everyone – students get to de-stress from their research papers and lab reports, faculty get to flaunt their prized pooch, and of course, the dog gets more belly rubs than it could dream of. Certainly, we must be responsive to students with allergies or fears, but on the whole, Gettysburg College should increase the number of dogs on campus and add additional Dog Days through counseling services. For our sake, for the dog’s sake, and for goodness’ sake, let them dogs out.
— Brandon Neely ’23
This article originally appeared on page 4 of the April 2023 edition of The Gettysburgian’s magazine.
