Opinion
 

UH students lucky to be Coogs

Barrett Goldsmith
Opinion Columnist

Stop complaining and take a look around you.

UH is not an Ivy League school. It's not Rice and it's not Stanford. But at the end of the day, it's more than good enough to get the job done.

This school has to deal with the problems of being an urban university and has also created a few of its own. Parking, long lines, parking, a lack of collegiality and parking are only a few of the daily hassles with which UH students have to contend.

Programs at UH are a mixed bag, with some departments ranking among the top in the country and others in the middle of the pack. But Houston's faculty is world-class and its facilities are well above average.

The bottom line is that UH is a better school than most people believe.

Hearing University officials talk about diversity is boring, but UH students should take pride in attending one of the most diverse campuses in the country.

And beyond bragging rights, the University's diversity provides students with a real advantage over students from more homogenous universities like Texas A&M, Baylor and Texas Christian.

In the real world, you will have to work with people who look, think and act differently than you do. No on is arguing that students from other schools have never seen a black person, a homosexual or a Muslim, but being surrounded by diversity is much different than seeing the token minority walk by once in a while.

UH students can also boast a high level of personal responsibility and maturity. Most students who attend UH also have jobs, and many work more than one. In addition, more than 80 percent of UH students live off-campus.

Though we often take it for granted, the school's location in a major city provides countless advantages. Houston's party scene isn't as good as other cities of comparable size, but the practical benefits of living in H-town far outweigh the problems.

For the graduate entering the job market, Houston is a virtual paradise. Houston has myriad job opportunities in service industries, business and every other trade one might choose to pursue.

But the best things about UH might also be the worst things about UH.

We deal with parking, we deal with red tape and we deal with all the problems that have become routine. Going to school here forces us to put up with a lot.

A student who has found parking spaces, waited in lines, cut through the red tape and earned a degree from this university has shown the wherewithal to get by in the world. Sure, we all curse the daily travails of going to UH. But we get past them.

And our football team is going to a bowl. Where will the Owls be on Christmas? Probably getting ready for the Canadian Football League draft.

So, when you tell someone where you go to school, don't shrug your shoulders and say "U of H" under your breath. Look him or her straight in the eye, raise your head high and tell him or her what's up.

"I'm a Cougar."

Or just pretend you don't speak English. Maybe someone will give you money.

Goldsmith is a senior communication major. 
He can be reached at Barjengo@hotmail.com.