Senior has advice for La Salle

By Lisa Angelucci
Collegian Staff
April 25, 2007

One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do for the Collegian is write this article. Of course, we’ve all worked hard this year, but I find it to be practically impossible to sum up my four years at La Salle in just over 500 words.

I’m one of those people who got involved with the Collegian by accident. I’m a communication major without any substantial interest in journalism. The only reason I began writing for the paper was because a good friend was named Philly File Editor (thanks, Anthony). When I was asked to join the editorial board for my senior year, I’ll admit that I needed to be convinced (thanks, Eddie).

This time last April, it crossed my mind that I would be writing my own senior goodbye within a year. And, honestly, I’ve been thinking since then about what I would write, and how I would choose to summarize my college experience within the boundaries of a commentary piece.

I don’t have a terribly unique story to tell – I love this University and I am so thankful for all of the experiences I’ve had. I have fantastic roommates – girls I would trust with my life. I have great friends who I know I’ll still see after graduation. The list of professors who have impacted my life is too long to even begin to single them out by name. Then there are my fellow ACEs in the admission office, everyone from Project Appalachia and, of course, the Collegian. Each one of these people has changed me, but again, that’s nothing new.

When I give tours to prospective students, their parents often ask what I don’t like about La Salle, and I’ve always avoided answering the question. Instead, I usually tell them that while I could easily make a list of 50 things I hate about La Salle, I could just as easily make a list of 100 things I love.

Here are some uglier things about La Salle that I don’t love: The instances when students are referred to as children, housing issues are reduced to a desire to “fill beds.” Or the instances when students – real, live people – are reduced to numbers and statistics that will fill the next year’s incoming class.

I realize that the bottom line is important. The financial health of La Salle is imperative to the continued success of this University. But the students, faculty and staff are the heart and soul of La Salle. We should be the bottom line.

I often speak on my tours about how the professors are the people who have truly defined my time here. They continually go above and beyond for their students. Why shouldn’t the administration do the same? There aren’t many professors at La Salle who will reward students for just doing “good enough.” Similarly, it’s unacceptable for the administration to do only what’s “good enough.” We should expect more. We deserve more.

The one thing that I will always remember about La Salle is that I’ve never felt that I needed to lie to the prospective students I’ve met. I can tell them that I love it here, because this University is a community full of people who truly care about each other. Often, that includes the administration. At other times, I think the powers-that-be at La Salle get too bogged down in the business side. Too focused on the numbers. Let the seniors remember a University that goes above and beyond for its students all of the time, not only when it’s legally or financially necessary.

angelluccil1@lasalle.edu