by Dr. Amber M.K. Smallwood
It seems each semester has its own feel: its own rhythm, smells, tastes, even sounds. Fall begins orderly and planned, smells of popcorn and tastes of hotdogs from football concessions. Sounds chatty—students reconnecting with friends, making new friends; faculty and staff printing, stapling, sorting syllabi; shuffling across campus between meetings, classes. Spring, as I have written before, has a feeling of tremendous momentum—nearly ending before it begins, smells of flowers blooming across the hundreds of acres of campus. Tastes of cookies served at the innumerable events that mark the end-beginning of so many university, college, department, club cycles. Sounds like a giant inhale as so many students dive in to the semester that ends in their parents’ exhale at graduation.
Summer has its own personality. Its rhythm is a contradiction—like a storm at sea: momentum building, waves swelling, wind tossing ships about at the surface juxtaposed with the relative calm of the waters mere feet below. Many of the faculty step away from campus to dive into research, retool and update courses, invest in professional development or just rejuvenate for the year ahead. Some days, hallways so vacant, they are almost spooky; other days, full lit, students crisscrossing through doors. Students and faculty still pack classrooms across campus, but increasingly students choose online course options during the summer—trading Pafford 106 for Orange Beach (not a bad trade, I think). But in their physical absence, new groups of students, excited about their first college experience or transferring to UWG, flood campus during June. They come with family and friends, filling classrooms, computer labs, dorms, dining halls across campus during their stays. Grouped by academic interest, streaming like tributaries from the far corners of campus, coming together to form powerful rivers flowing into the TLC and Z6. We’ve had the opportunity to meet nearly 500 students who will be majoring in departments in the College of Social Sciences. It’s such a joy to feel their enthusiasm, embrace and shape their vision, and relieve their anxieties about a new school.
Summer tastes like macaroni and cheese, collards, black-eyed peas, ham, fried chicken and brownies with ice cream. The official menu of summer orientations. Delicious! Outside of the dining halls, summer smells of grilling. Our Master of Public Administration program just hosted its annual mid-summer celebration cookout, and we’re already planning our next grill out event. Despite the thousands of students, staff and faculty across UWG campus, Summer sounds quiet…thoughtful, reflective, patient, grateful.
The orderliness of Fall will be upon us soon. Until then, there is much to do and not do during this beautiful summer.
Dr. Amber M. K. Smallwood is the associate dean of the College of Social Sciences.
