Whether they commute or live on campus, Rowan students shared their hot takes about the university, ranging from parking to student behavior. Some gave quick answers, while others turned their hot takes into suggestions and complaints about what university leadership could improve.
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the term “hot take” means “a quickly produced, strongly worded, and often deliberately provocative or sensational opinion or reaction.” The term has recently become common in social media trends.
When it comes to Rowan, commuter students gave their honest and often similar hot takes. For Daniel Kasprzak, a freshman civil and environmental engineering major, and Sara Pineda Reyes, a sophomore chemical engineering major, both agree that Rowan does not offer enough parking spots for commuters.
“Rowan has the worst parking lot in the United States,” Kasprzak said.
Reyes believes that the money students spend on parking should go towards adding more parking lots.
“We spend too much money on stuff that isn’t parking-related,” Reyes said. “The university should focus on improving parking options for commuter students.”
Reyes didn’t just give a hot take; she offered potential solutions to the problem.
“Maybe that’s allowing fewer people into Rowan, maybe that’s building bigger parking garages and lots, maybe that’s striking a deal with the parking garage,” Reyes said.
Resident students had their own hot takes, some contrasting with those of commuters. Freshman nursing major Amanda Dias spoke positively about living on campus.
“My Rowan hot take is that living on campus is better than commuting,” Dias said.
Sarah Alvim, a freshman athletic training major, also spoke positively about living on campus, specifically the food.
“Holly Pointe food isn’t that bad,” Alvim said.
Not all residents spoke fondly of the experience of living on campus. Rebecka Doran, a senior law and justice major with a minor in psychology, said she has had bad experiences with maintenance.
“Living on campus, maintenance is not very helpful with any issue that you need help with,” Doran said.
While both commuters and residents gave hot takes about campus life, other students, like Emmanuel Espinal, a freshman law and justice major, shared thoughts about staying motivated as a student at Rowan.
“There is no such thing as motivation, only obligation,” Espinal said. “Let’s say someone is motivating you to do something, that’s all emotion. You’re obligated to do it for your family, for your friends, for your culture, or whatever it may be.”
Regardless of topic, tone, or where they live, Rowan students shared strong opinions about the university and the things that matter most to them. Their hot takes offer a unique and sometimes unpopular look at campus life, while pointing out areas where the university and its students can continue to improve.
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