Healthcare Center Needed on Campus
Ashley Whitaker
Issue date: 2/23/10 Section: Opinion
I've been attending Augusta State University for longer than I would like to divulge, and I've never fully understood why we don't have a health clinic.
OK, so I know what the arguments are, and once upon a time, those arguments were valid. Yes, we are technically a commuter campus, and yes, the majority of students here actually live in Augusta, and aren't just here for school, so they probably have their own physician.
I get it. I really do. However, if we're ever going to grow as a university, don't we need to step up our game?
I'm going to say it: We students spend money on fees all day long, and oftentimes, we don't really see any direct benefits for all the cash we hand over. For instance, I know I have never ridden in an Augusta State shuttle, and probably never will. However, I can see that such a service really does boost our school's credibility. The shuttle service benefits those students who don't have transportation of their own, but a health clinic would benefit us all.
We are not "just" a commuter campus anymore. We have student dorms. We have a student activity center and an amphitheatre. Our little campus is steadily growing, and if the powers that be want to continue this momentum, they need to go all the way. They shouldn't create all this great stuff, like dorms and activity centers, but then skimp on necessities.
I think it is awesome that students are coming from all over the south and southeast to attend Augusta State, but what happens when they get here and they come down with the flu, and have no idea where to go? This is where a health clinic comes in.
Maritess Banez, SGA president, is trying to make this happen for us. Banez and the SGA senate have been working on a resolution that would make a health clinic a reality for our campus. And we're not talking 5 years from now-we're talking in less than 2 years, possibly.
The clinic is still very much in the planning stage, but it seems to be accruing a fair amount of support. I encourage students to come to SGA meetings and let their voices be heard, no matter how corny that may sound.
Let SGA (and the Board of Regents while you're at it) know that we need a health center on campus. And let them know what you expect out of it. Do we want contraceptives offered? Vaccinations? Antibiotics? Physicals? This is the time to throw your idea into the hat.
To me, we will never grow up to our full potential as a university until we start offering services as basic and vital as a health clinic. End of story.
OK, so I know what the arguments are, and once upon a time, those arguments were valid. Yes, we are technically a commuter campus, and yes, the majority of students here actually live in Augusta, and aren't just here for school, so they probably have their own physician.
I get it. I really do. However, if we're ever going to grow as a university, don't we need to step up our game?
I'm going to say it: We students spend money on fees all day long, and oftentimes, we don't really see any direct benefits for all the cash we hand over. For instance, I know I have never ridden in an Augusta State shuttle, and probably never will. However, I can see that such a service really does boost our school's credibility. The shuttle service benefits those students who don't have transportation of their own, but a health clinic would benefit us all.
We are not "just" a commuter campus anymore. We have student dorms. We have a student activity center and an amphitheatre. Our little campus is steadily growing, and if the powers that be want to continue this momentum, they need to go all the way. They shouldn't create all this great stuff, like dorms and activity centers, but then skimp on necessities.
I think it is awesome that students are coming from all over the south and southeast to attend Augusta State, but what happens when they get here and they come down with the flu, and have no idea where to go? This is where a health clinic comes in.
Maritess Banez, SGA president, is trying to make this happen for us. Banez and the SGA senate have been working on a resolution that would make a health clinic a reality for our campus. And we're not talking 5 years from now-we're talking in less than 2 years, possibly.
The clinic is still very much in the planning stage, but it seems to be accruing a fair amount of support. I encourage students to come to SGA meetings and let their voices be heard, no matter how corny that may sound.
Let SGA (and the Board of Regents while you're at it) know that we need a health center on campus. And let them know what you expect out of it. Do we want contraceptives offered? Vaccinations? Antibiotics? Physicals? This is the time to throw your idea into the hat.
To me, we will never grow up to our full potential as a university until we start offering services as basic and vital as a health clinic. End of story.
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