USF Village Discussion

[RickUSF]

USF needs to play catch up to the on-campus environments of UF, FSU, UM.. and yes even UCF.

You people do realize that College environment is more than just being in a BCS conference, right?  Maybe an athletic village like UCF's will bring people on campus/bring them out of their dorms.. as it stands, kids go off campus for entertainment, so we need to find a way to bring them back on campus.  As much as i would like a village like that, we need to build a stadium on campus first and then build a village around it.

[gobulls83]

You people do realize that College environment is more than just being in a BCS conference, right?

You do realize that "college environment" is a totally subjective and abstract concept and can't be linked to any specific factor, right?

[RickUSF]

You people do realize that College environment is more than just being in a BCS conference, right?

You do realize that "college environment" is a totally subjective and abstract concept and can't be linked to any specific factor, right?

Only people who have never been to another college campus other than USF would say things like that

My hope is that we become like Arizona State.. big (in fact HUGE) public school in a metropolitan area.. but with an on-campus environment along with a pseudo-college town feel in the surrounding area

[gobulls83]

You people do realize that College environment is more than just being in a BCS conference, right?

You do realize that "college environment" is a totally subjective and abstract concept and can't be linked to any specific factor, right?

Only people who have never been to another college campus other than USF would say things like that

My hope is that we become like Arizona State.. big (in fact HUGE) public school in a metropolitan area.. but with an on-campus environment along with a pseudo-college town feel in the surrounding area

OK, if "college environment" is not abstract, it will be no problem for you to list for me all the things that make a "college environment." Again, because it is not abstract or subjective, this can't be something that varies from school to school. If it did vary, that would make it subjective, but we've established that it's NOT subjective. Please provide me with the list.

[UsfGoose]

You people do realize that College environment is more than just being in a BCS conference, right?

You do realize that "college environment" is a totally subjective and abstract concept and can't be linked to any specific factor, right?

Only people who have never been to another college campus other than USF would say things like that

My hope is that we become like Arizona State.. big (in fact HUGE) public school in a metropolitan area.. but with an on-campus environment along with a pseudo-college town feel in the surrounding area

OK, if "college environment" is not abstract, it will be no problem for you to list for me all the things that make a "college environment." Again, because it is not abstract or subjective, this can't be something that varies from school to school. If it did vary, that would make it subjective, but we've established that it's NOT subjective. Please provide me with the list.

I'll give you one:  On Campus Traditions like the ASU Undie Run 2010

UCF has Spirit Splash that I heard that is pretty crazy but I agree with the other guys post.  If we could get an environment like ASU, **** I would go to campus every year and tell co-eds that I'm a graduate student LOL

[gobulls83]

You people do realize that College environment is more than just being in a BCS conference, right?

You do realize that "college environment" is a totally subjective and abstract concept and can't be linked to any specific factor, right?

Only people who have never been to another college campus other than USF would say things like that

My hope is that we become like Arizona State.. big (in fact HUGE) public school in a metropolitan area.. but with an on-campus environment along with a pseudo-college town feel in the surrounding area

OK, if "college environment" is not abstract, it will be no problem for you to list for me all the things that make a "college environment." Again, because it is not abstract or subjective, this can't be something that varies from school to school. If it did vary, that would make it subjective, but we've established that it's NOT subjective. Please provide me with the list.

I'll give you one:  On Campus Traditions like the ASU Undie Run 2010

UCF has Spirit Splash that I heard that is pretty crazy but I agree with the other guys post.  If we could get an environment like ASU, **** I would go to campus every year and tell co-eds that I'm a graduate student LOL

The point I'm making is this: RickUSF said "College environment is more than just being in a BCS conference," but what it doesn't seem to realize is that creating such an atmosphere doesn't even have to involve a BCS conference, or any sports at all (certainly helps though).

Harvard has a campus that I'd say has a great college atmosphere, but has very little to do with sports.

What makes Arizona State a "college environment" is different from what makes UF a "college environment," which is different from what makes any other university a "college environment." If it were as simple as listing all the things that DO make such an atmosphere, then every university in the country would have done it already.

[UsfGoose]

You people do realize that College environment is more than just being in a BCS conference, right?

You do realize that "college environment" is a totally subjective and abstract concept and can't be linked to any specific factor, right?

Only people who have never been to another college campus other than USF would say things like that

My hope is that we become like Arizona State.. big (in fact HUGE) public school in a metropolitan area.. but with an on-campus environment along with a pseudo-college town feel in the surrounding area

OK, if "college environment" is not abstract, it will be no problem for you to list for me all the things that make a "college environment." Again, because it is not abstract or subjective, this can't be something that varies from school to school. If it did vary, that would make it subjective, but we've established that it's NOT subjective. Please provide me with the list.

I'll give you one:  On Campus Traditions like the ASU Undie Run 2010

UCF has Spirit Splash that I heard that is pretty crazy but I agree with the other guys post.  If we could get an environment like ASU, **** I would go to campus every year and tell co-eds that I'm a graduate student LOL

The point I'm making is this: RickUSF said "College environment is more than just being in a BCS conference," but what it doesn't seem to realize is that creating such an atmosphere doesn't even have to involve a BCS conference, or any sports at all (certainly helps though).

Harvard has a campus that I'd say has a great college atmosphere, but has very little to do with sports.

What makes Arizona State a "college environment" is different from what makes UF a "college environment," which is different from what makes any other university a "college environment." If it were as simple as listing all the things that DO make such an atmosphere, then every university in the country would have done it already.

Ok.  my bad. I think I read through every one's post to quickly.  But it looks like everyone on this thread wants the same thing. 

[Oldsmobull]

I've been on the UCF campus many times over the years, as far back as around 1969 when it only had 4 or 5 bldgs and was just opening as Florida Technological University.  I've never liked the design that is kinda patterned after Epcot with its concentric roads.  To this day I still think of UCF as a "theme park" and I think the appeal to so many students is its proximity to Disney World--The Magic Kingdom and how by attending UCF it will be like being at Disney World every day.  

[Guest]

It would be interesting to see if Judy and company have something like this on their radar.  When UCF built their "village" including the football stadium it transformed the school.  UCF had a smaller enrollment, weaker sports, lesser academics status compared to USF and now they are the 2nd largest school in the nation.

So UCF jumped from No. 8 or No. 9 to No. 2, it's not like this turned Stetson University into Ohio State or something. And I know I'm biased here, but is there any measurement by which UCF doesn't have "lesser academics status compared to USF" NOW?

Moreover, UCF was the 2nd largest school in the state for YEARS before the "village" was built.  It didn't transform the school... and they would be the 2nd largest school in the nation WITHOUT the Village.

You need to look up the term post hoc, ergo propter hoc...

[Guest]

USF needs to play catch up to the on-campus environments of UF, FSU, UM.. and yes even UCF.

You people do realize that College environment is more than just being in a BCS conference, right?  Maybe an athletic village like UCF's will bring people on campus/bring them out of their dorms.. as it stands, kids go off campus for entertainment, so we need to find a way to bring them back on campus.  As much as i would like a village like that, we need to build a stadium on campus first and then build a village around it.

I don't think you've spent much time on other campuses either... most of the entertainment in Tallahassee, Gainesville, Miami, and Orlando is OFF CAMPUS.

For example, Florida State students party on Tennesee Street and Downtown... NOT ON CAMPUS.

Miami students party in South Beach or Coconut Grove... NOT ON CAMPUS.

Heck, THE U has never - NEVER - played a football game on campus...

Don't get me wrong... I like the idea of "new urbanism" embodied in the plan UCF and FAU are following... and it might be a good idea for USF... but it will not be the panacea you think it is.