The O-town Scene

Scene the O-Town Vol. 1, No. 45 www.otownscene.com 102 Chestnut St., P.O. Box 250, Oneonta, NY 13820 (607) 432-1000, ext. 255, editor@otownscene.com EDITOR Cassandra Miller ASSOCIATE MANAGING EDITOR OF THE DAILY STAR Adrienne Wise PUBLISHER Armand Nardi CONTRIBUTORS Josh Baldo, John Champlin, David Fredette Terry Ludwig, Jim Koury, Emily Popek, EDITOR OF THE DAILY STAR Sam Pollak Jacob Pucci, Denise Richardson, Lisa Ryther, Bill Schaefer Mark Simonson, Sam Spokony and Jennifer Tighe. ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Sean Lewis The O-Town Scene is published Thursdays by The Daily Star Inc. Free copies are distributed throughout Oneonta, as well as parts of Otsego, Delaware and Schoharie counties. Member of The Associated Press and CNHI News Service EDITOR'S NOTE Walmart is packed, beer- pong games have com- menced on front lawns and, in the evening, girls in heels are making their way to no-pants panties _ college is back in session. 2 O-Town Scene Aug. 25, 2011 I just listened to the No. 1 Party School episode of "This American Life," an NPR show dealing with everyday life themes. It originally aired in December 2009, when Penn State was the reigning school, but its segments are true of describing any college experience, with students do- ing five shots in five minutes to pre-game a house party, drunk boys stealing Stop signs and girls going out dressed like cocktail wait- resses at a strip club. The idea of college as a four-year party isn't new. And many people experience this strange rite of passage without thinking too much about it. Scene writer and SUNY Oneonta senior Sam Spokony makes some inter- esting points in his column this week (Page 5), noting that you don't have to buy into the idea that college is meant to be the best time of your life or that you're meant to be drunk for most of it. He suggests finding happiness outside of happy hour. College is this incredible time when students have access to all of these really knowledgeable people and near-endless opportunities to try out new things. Yeah, trying out new things could mean experimenting with mind-altering substances, and nudity with various company. But, why not take the college experience less traveled, and try out something more memorable or meaningful? Pick the brains of professors and fellow students. Bask in the luxury of thinking deeply about what you're studying, instead of just trying to pass the class. Invent something. Learn a new skill. Talk about world issues with people who have seen the world, or at least have a doctorate. These people know more than you, even though you may not believe it. The experiences I had in college that really shaped who I am today have nothing to do with what my friends and I did after downing a bottle of Captain Morgan's spiced rum, (which I can- not bear to sip to this day). I cringe even thinking about the slurry, blurry night. But, I do remember the thrill of interviewing city councilors for my school newspaper, skydiving during study abroad and meeting friends who inspired me to move to Prague after graduation. I hope our students in One- onta make their own clear-eyed memories while they're here. — Cassandra Miller Cassandra Miller is the founding editor of the O-Town Scene. She can be reached at editor@ otownscene. com.

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