Ashley De Shields
The administration of Long Island University and the SGA have been trying for some time to strengthen the ties between C.W. Post and its sister campus in Brooklyn. Among other things, there have been bi-campus retreats and guest speakers as well as athletic events. However, it still has done little to unify or at least bring the campuses closer.
Some members of administration have also considered making each campus’ newspaper available on both campuses. The Brooklyn campus has a student newspaper called the Seawanhaka (Sea-wah-naka). The new Editor-in-Chief is Mabel Martinez. Like all student papers, including the Pioneer, there is a struggle between being campus-oriented and showing outside of campus events that the student body might not be aware of. Martinez said, “I really wanted to change the paper beginning from the content and layout. I want the paper to be the voice of the students and more campus- oriented, which it has been so far. As for layout, I wanted it to be more appealing to the eye, so students are more willing to pick it up. This year, the Seawanhaka has an entire new staff, and we all have been working really hard to make this paper better than what it has been in the past.”
So, the question remains: Should the Pioneer be brought to Brooklyn, and should we bring the Seawanhaka here?
Ashley Staib, a music major in her junior year here at Post, says, “It could be beneficial because the perception of the Brooklyn campus isn’t that it is a train or bus away. They seem further; it is almost as if they aren’t real. Bringing the paper there and vice versa would get rid of that barrier, and it could help with the bi- campus relationship because students at C.W. Post can take advantage of events the Brooklyn campus has in the paper. Brooklyn students will also be able to take advantage of events at C.W. Post, such as events at the Tilles Center.”
Dan Caccavale, a senior political science major, concurs with Ashley, saying, “I think it’s a great idea. It would give Post students an idea of LIU life outside of this campus. By using both papers, we can improve bi campus relations between students.”
Some people agree and think it is a good idea, but there is also the potential problem that students won’t bother reading the other paper because they feel matters in the paper do not concern them. “Having both newspapers at both campuses is a good idea, but I don’t think it would work out because having the Pioneer paper at Brooklyn would confuse students. Some students won’t know which newspaper is for which campus, or they might think otherwise. Also, the Pioneer newspaper has campus news and events that most likely won’t relate to the Brooklyn Campus students, so a lot of students might not read the paper because it has nothing to do with them or the Brooklyn Campus.” said Martinez.
However things that happen within our campuses affect all of us more than we think. It is just hard to see it on an individual basis. The Brooklyn Campus helps support this campus. If they take a major blow, it will affect us. One may see a large spike in tuition or cuts in certain departments. One of our editors-in-chief, Jackie Favaloro, says, “I think it is worth trying. It might be interesting for students to see what the other campus is doing. It may create a sense of unity between the campuses. A potential issue may be some students are too busy and consumed by their own lives that they won’t pick up the paper or connect.”
There are pros and cons for this idea, but, ultimately, no one will ever know unless they try. This would mean that the discounts students get for events through the school will have to extend to the students on the other campuses should people choose to try and take advantage of the opportunities at the other campus. Having both papers available seems like it could be a success and give each campus better ideas of what to do to bring the campuses together by using each paper’s opinion section. Students may want to bring programs they hear are going on here at Post to the Brooklyn campus. Maybe, Post should keep an eye out for the colorful red banner of the Seawanhaka Press.
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