Orange has never really been a popular color. No one ever liked the orange-haired, freckly, buck-toothed kid whose mom came on all the field trips. Most normal, un-imprisoned citizens avoid orange clothing. And lord knows Sacramento State students are tired of seeing the orange hard hats and netting that accompany the abundance of construction on campus. Unfortunately, in light of the dream that is Destination 2010, there is only more construction to come.

So, is it worth it? President Gonzalez tells us that by 2010 Sac State will have been transformed from the laid back, commuter campus that it is today into a stimulating, scholarly playground. Delays in recent campus projects tell us that Destination 2010 won’t be complete until at least 2015 and that all of these fantastic plans have nothing to do with any of us.

I don’t care if there’s a parking complex that relieves congestion once I’m gone nor do I get excited to hear about new athletic facilities for teams with less than inspiring records.

What would be nice is if the building that all my classes are in didn’t smell like maple syrup and vinegar or if any of the Powers That Be on campus could figure out when air conditioning is appropriate and when to turn on the heat. These are the issues that concern me, not a bigger pool or campus bowling alley.

Students rarely take advantage of the benefits and resources that this university already provides and I doubt that all the hype is going to change that. There are already free workout facilities on campus, so why do I see so many of my peers sweatin’ over at 24 Hour Fitness? Guest speakers like “Crash” producer Bobby Moresco would draw a huge, appreciative crowd at most universities, but Sac State audiences rarely exceed the Redwood Room.

The fact that there are many seniors on this campus whose closest encounters with the library have been from behind their fraternity’s booth is evidence enough of the lack of student interest in what this campus has to offer.

All any of us care about is getting to class. I mean that is what we’re paying for, right? All the barriers and headache-causing noise that come along with the construction of Gonzalez’s Sac State utopia mean nothing more than a pain in the ass for me.

Sac State, despite all efforts, is still a commuter campus and it has nothing to do with travel time. The majority of students didn’t work hard in high school to make it to Slack State but, as tuition goes up, they’re working hard to pay for it.

Don’t get me wrong; there are plenty of benefits on this tree-covered campus, which is exactly why it can draw locals, commuters, teens, mothers and grandmothers alike.

You’re not expected to be involved, but you can be. You’re not expected to love the teams, but more power to you. You’re certainly not expected to spend all of your time here, but it’s always nice to see you around. I love Sac State precisely because it is a commuter campus. Frankly, I don’t have time for much more.

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Jen White can be reached at

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