The start of the school year is upon us, and fresh-faced first years of the class of 2019 have arrived. Despite a name that implies periphery, for thousands of University students, the Corner is the center of social life during their undergraduate years.
Like many aspects of the University, the Corner has a problematic history, dotted with instances of racial injustice and hate crimes, both by students and by Corner institutions.
Alcohol abuse is an issue that affects universities across the nation, and the University is not exempt. The Corner, dotted with bars frequented by University students, is a hub for this activity.
The prevalence of bars and drinking institutions as well as the history of exclusion and instances of injustice make it clear that there is a need for a cultural shift on the Corner. Our first step in fostering this change should be the creation of a sober socializing space, open to all University students, on the Corner.
A sober socializing space would be especially impactful for the social life of first-year students. For many first-year students, social life revolves around fraternity parties on Rugby Road. For students who do not drink, this can mean a lot of time spent in dorms. While there are activities planned by the University Programs Council throughout the year, many if not all of these activities take place in the Central Grounds area. In reality, few students want to hang out in Newcomb on the weekends. Repurposing the Corner as a space for healthy and safe activities would make the Corner welcoming to all students, rather than just those engaging in drinking.
This space could also be used for CIOs to hold University-wide events. With many students living nearby, these events would likely be frequented by more than the same small group of students (who are usually those with some involvement in that organization).
William Henagan, a third-year College student and executive member of the Sexual Violence Prevention Coalition, says, “Our social sphere revolves around an activity the majority of undergraduate students cannot legally enjoy. As a result, unhealthy drinking habits emerge to compensate for tightening regulation. Providing a healthy, socially viable alternative to students unprepared to have their first drink a week into college is imperative to improving Corner culture and social life.”
It is important to clarify that the creation of a sober socializing space on the Corner will not ameliorate issues of diversity and inclusion nor alcohol abuse completely. However, it would facilitate a new definition of ownership of this space that would in turn lead to a more diverse (racially and otherwise) group of students frequenting the Corner. This would benefit all University students and help prevent the “U.Va. bubble” problem, which is that we tend to stay within our small social groups, majors and extracurricular affiliations, rarely venturing out into the vast student body and meeting people with whom we have little in common.
The Corner is emblematic of University life. Ideally, this space could be a place for all University students to meet, watch movies, relax and socialize outside of the Grounds, Rugby Road and bars. The legacy of the Corner is difficult, but repurposing it as a safe area for socialization would be a tangible way to pave the way for a different culture in the future.
The University has recently acquired the former Corner bookstore. This purchase is the perfect opportunity for a new student building for socializing and meeting. When potential students visit in coming years, the visibility and prominence of such a space on the Corner would send a positive and promising message about University culture.
Mary Russo is a Senior Associate Editor for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at mary.russo@cavalierdaily.com.
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