Is SU boring or is it just you?

graphic by Sophia Bella Donio

Oh college. It’s the place where we’re all supposed to meet our for-lifers, fall in love with our hot freshmen neighbor, and of course where we will inevitably experience “the best years of our lives.” Right?

Let’s be honest though. For most of us, participating in the traditional SU shit is only taking us farther away from those college-tour-cliches and bringing us closer to alcoholism, seasonal depression, and mild heartbreak. I mean how often are morning mimosas at Rise N Shine and darties in 50 degree weather really going to make up for the other five days of the week?

If you’re not careful, Syracuse can get boring, like really fucking boring. Like we’re pretty sure the ESF kids who wander through the cemetery are having more fun than us, boring. But it doesn’t have to be this way (shocking, i know).

Imagine a place with beautiful waterfalls and rolling hills or here’s a crazy one: imagine a place to go party with your friends that actually plays good music. These might not be part of the traditional “Syracuse experience” but trust us they can be.

You wouldn’t be able to tell it from walking by the scattered beer cans dotting the parking lot of Castle or studying in the Cold War era prison that we call “Bird”, but genuinely Syracuse and its surrounding area is beautiful. Venturing out for the fourth weekend in a row to just stand under a tent and pray Rihanna gets played doesn’t have to be the norm. Instead of taking that Uber to Margaritas or having a DD drive you from Euclid to Walnut, spend a Saturday at one of the numerous waterfalls nearby, go for a hike, or just go chill at Green Lakes.

So much of being a college student can feel like doing things because you’re “supposed to”, but honestly the best part about being in college is the ability to do things that you actually want to do.

As corny, cliche, and “50-year-old Dad” as it is to say, college truly is what you make of it. So, if you’re tired of being dragged around to different sticky basements or being forced to sit through another game at the Dome, here’s a crazy idea: STOP DOING IT.

As much fun as it is to shit on Syracuse, the University and surrounding area has actual things to do that don’t require getting absolutely plastered to enjoy. We all know that SU can feel as if it was created for white, upper-class families from the Northeast (and for the most part we’re pretty sure it was), but both the University and surrounding area has a lot more to offer than frigid Friday nights walking through campus half-dressed.

If you’re looking for a place to party and listen to music, try one of the several different house show venues on campus like Redgate, The Harrington, or The Garden. If you’re trying to get off campus for a little bit to see something other than 60s architecture and natty light cans on the side of the road, visit some of the different waterfalls like Pratts Falls or Tinker Falls. Even if you’re trying to eat something a little more diverse than the illustrious Panda Express, there’s the Salt City market downtown.

Look we know doing new things is hard, and doing them with new people is even harder, but there’s no reason why you shouldn’t at least try to live out some of those stupid college cliches. We’re not saying that these are actually going to be “best years of your life” but there’s no harm in trying.