Recently there was an article published called 20 Issues I Have With Franciscan University. While every university has strengths and weaknesses, I would like to counter this article with a positive view on each of these:
1. The tuition is as low as it can be.
Honestly a lot of private Catholic colleges are up to $50,000 per year. It could be worse.
2. The rules make for a healthy communal living environment.
I don't know about you, but I enjoy quiet hours. I need my sleep. Also, I don't want to wake up and groggily walk to the bathroom having to worry about whether or not there is a man in the hall at 7:30 a.m.
3. You learn how to be an adult.
Yes, there are rules. But you learn to follow them instead of rebel against them, which is an important step on the path to adulthood.
4. The academics are intensive and rigorous.
I wouldn't want to go to a school if the academics were not intensive and rigorous. After all, we are here to learn.
5. Night life is what you make of it!
Do you enjoy going to bars and parties? Go for it! Would you prefer staying in and watching a movie with friends? You can do that, too. There is something for everyone so long as you make the opportunities.
6. Downtown Steubenville is within walking distance.
Anyone want to go to the next concert at The Harmonium Project? We don't even need to worry about parallel parking -- we can just walk.
7. Financial Aid employees are incredibly helpful.
They often work tirelessly to assist you in finding a payment plan and to encourage you to apply for scholarships. They don't want you to end up in thousands of dollars of debt.
8. We can experience all of the seasons within a week.
Yeah, this can be annoying, but if you check the weather on your iPhone, who cares? I'll deal.
9. I can make a fool of myself and not feel embarrassed.
I just saw my best friend in the JC. I totally ran up and koala-d her. No, I have no regrets.
10. Half of the dorms have AC.
Some campuses do not have any dorms with AC.
11. We have access to computers on campus.
Need to do some homework, but your laptop is broken? Go to the library or to Egan and find yourself a computer!
12. It's located in Steubenville, Ohio.
A couple hours from Columbus and less than an hour from Pittsburgh lies a small town with a large history.
13. We are blessed with some magnificent professors!
I've loved every single one of my professors so far. So you have to read some really long syllabi. So what? I want to know what my semester is going to look like, and that document has it all laid out for me.
14. Austria: the semester of a lifetime.
I haven't been to Austria, but everyone I know who has gone has loved it.
15. Households are mini faith-filled communities of joy!
Sometimes the screaming can be mildly frustrating, but everyone is so joyful with their household brothers and sisters that you can't even stay frustrated for long.
16. People inspect our laundry machines weekly to ensure our use of them is not limited by problems.
Thank you, inspectors!
17. Our water is not yellow or contaminated with lead.
We do not have it that bad. Yes, I use a Brita and filter my water, but I have also had water from the water fountain in the JC. It's nothing like the water in Flint.
18. Alcohol consumption is monitored on-campus.
Fun should not be defined as 'getting drunk.' Also, if you are at an on-campus event with free alcohol, it should be limited -- you aren't paying for every drink you have. They do this for your protection and your safety, not to spite you.
19. Parkhurst employees are wonderful to converse with!
Linda is my favorite. Oh, and Doug! Also Toni who swipes me in at the caf everyday.
20. I buy way too many books at the bookstore.
It's incredible how many great books are available to us in that little store. Sure, they buy textbooks back for cheaper than they sold them to you, but that's how businesses make money. And the bookstore is a business, after all.
There are more than 20 things I love about Franciscan. Heck, if I composed my own list, I would probably include the ballet bar in the aerobics room as well as the fitness classes, res life staff, and the one and only Rachael Popcak. But this list just goes to show that if you look at the university through a positive lens, the issues don't seem so terrible.
