How cultured is UConn really?

When you think of UConn, what is brought to mind? Drinking? Partying? Sports? Studying? Sports? Student Union Late Night? All of these may be correct for some students, but certainly not all.

UConn has people from all backgrounds, whether it be those involved in Greek Life, or those who live in EcoHouse, UConn’s environment-conscious living and learning community. But despite the differences, one would want to imagine that there is something unique to UConn. Something akin to a coffee shop, or a type of clothing, or a level of snobbishness coming from the students.

Early in its history, the University of Connecticut had a reputation for rambunctious behavior. So much, in fact, that Playboy rated it the sixth-place party school in the 1986 (In other news, Playboy rates party schools). Show’s over, this means that people come to UConn to party. That’s what we are, or in other words, our unifying culture. That’s not exactly true. With the new crackdowns on partying during the past few years— such as the weekend police gate of Carriage and the investigations/expelling of particular fraternities/sororities—that’s not really what defines us anymore.

Without a general theme of partying (which could be construed as a bad or good thing depending on who you talk to), there is a gap in the characterization of UConn. We are not a particular artsy or political school. Our academics are a-okay, but nothing unique. People can learn chemistry here, but UConn’s chemistry program is not world-renown. The decor matches the eclectic community: a complete mix of old, new, and redone barely distinguishable solid brick buildings (with exceptions Laurel and Gampel, of course).

Everyone has their little place in UConn, but is there really anything unique about us all?

One of the main reasons why this question is surprising is that UConn is not a new school. Founded in 1881, we’ve had over a century to define ourselves. The only thing is that we didn’t. Storrs never really became a place for a specific type of person. Storrs, the village within a town, never really became anything at all. Without a surrounding town to support it, there was not much post-grad community there to help create a cultural history.

While in this floating abyss of metaphorical plain gray, UConn got a glimmer of hope in the more recent years. Storrs Center was developed, and with it, multitudes of lasting opportunity. Community events can now be technically off-campus and for everyone. Live concerts. Local businesses. It still seems like a skeleton now, but hopefully in thirty years some might see UConn’s greater community as a little nice town.

Another, even more recent, angle, is the force feeding of culture by the UConn administration. The Benton got a makeover, and with it, came the fresh re-opening of The Beanery. Filled with unique sandwiches and fun Italian soda, The Beanery could become a fun local landmark. Strangely enough though, this isn’t an effort by individual local students or residents, but rather the UConn administration. For the remodeling they took over The Beanery, made it a product of UConn dining, and took complete control. They took charge of access to events within it, including creating a consistent open mic every week.

Le Petit Marche is another example of administration trying to birth culture, through it’s addition in the aforementioned Storrs center. Crepes and fancy yogurts are a staple here, with an exciting style and a theater/concert room in the same building.

It’s very easy to be mad at Herbst for trying to make a relaxed cafe and music culture where none exists. The problem is that it’s working. Open mic nights at the Beanery are very popular and many times the coffee shop is full during day hours. Le Petit Marche with its unique foods and location next to jazz nights are also very popular. The dissonance we’re experiencing likely stems from the fact that we recall what it was like before these were put into place, and how unnaturally they appear to be springing up.

Bottom line: we don’t have a solid culture yet. However, this could possibly change to a hip and liberal town theme if the current trend continues. It may seem weird, but in 50 years, when Storrs center has been further developed, and live music becomes the norm, UConn may bring to mind something more tangible.