Caffeine-deprived students with a Dunkin’ fix, curious attendees in line for exciting cultural events and camaraderie amongst friends new and old help comprise the lively social atmosphere at the Students Activities Center (SAC), the center of campus life.
When upbeat music blasts out of speakers and hundreds of social interactions blend into each other, it can be difficult to give a nuanced answer to what social life is like on campus, but that didn’t stop The Statesman from asking anyway. After all, it’s back to school, and what’s a school without a social life?
Of the eight students interviewed, the majority reflected positively on the social scene at Stony Brook University; however, they greatly acknowledged that their personality types and engagement in extracurriculars played significant roles in shaping their opinions.
Kumail Syed, a commuter junior majoring in biochemistry, expressed that although they believe some colleges outperform Stony Brook in this aspect, Stony Brook does well in terms of social life.
“It’s pretty good; it’s not as involved as other universities, but it’s not as secluded as people make it out to be,” they said.
Stony Brook’s reputation as a “secluded” school has been a years-long subject of discourse on Reddit, where many students have expressed discontent with campus life.
Anjali Jadeja, a commuter senior majoring in computer science with a minor in studio art, said student involvement is crucial to forming connections. Without those initial attempts, students would find it virtually impossible to adapt.
“It depends on you. If you’re always gonna be sitting in your room, it’s hard to make friends that way,” she said. “Even if you don’t know anyone, just go. If you go alone, you’ll find what you truly like, and you’ll make friends also.”
Saiteja Kalam, a commuter graduate student getting their master’s degree in data science, supported that sentiment but added that people weren’t particularly hard to come by; rather, good friends were.
“It’s not very difficult to find people. [But] it’s difficult to find people of your liking,” he said.
Though most students interviewed expressed contentment with their current social lives, some said that they didn’t always feel that way.
Progga Dutta, a commuter senior majoring in computer science, reflected on her experience as an international transfer student from Bangladesh. She noted that the campus’s lack of resources for transfer students made it tough for her to adjust, and the school’s generalized groupings of international students didn’t help expand her circle of friends.
“When [new students] come over as freshmen, they get a lot of help. [But] transfer students don’t get a lot of help,” she said. “International students are grouped together.”
Over time, Dutta said she was able to acclimate once classes kicked off and events became more common.
“It took me one year to understand the nature of the school,” she said. “When I first came here, it seemed pretty dead to me. But right now, it’s more vibrant … When it went into the fall semester, there were more events and I got to know more people.”
Several students agreed that frequent events and Stony Brook’s wide variety of clubs were the strongest aspects of campus life.
Kate Glenn, a resident junior majoring in environmental studies, said, “There’s a strong club culture. It’s easy for people to find a place for themselves.”
With over 26,000 students and more than 350 clubs and organizations, Stony Brook has no shortage of social opportunities, but what it does lack is personal connection — especially between those most dissimilar.
All the students interviewed mentioned the noticeable disconnect between different groups on campus. Specifically, commuters said inconveniently-timed events were some of Stony Brook’s weakest aspects.
“Based on the amount of money they take from us for transportation and [the] student activities fee, [events] should be more inclusive and give interest to a lot of people,” Jadeja said.
Kalam said he’d propose “increas[ing] the collaboration between undergrad and grad students.” He suggested that the Undergraduate Student Government and the Graduate Student Organization could collaborate.
Kaustubh Funde, a resident graduate student majoring in computer science, also commented on the lack of contact between undergraduate and graduate students.
“It’s tough for undergrad students and grad students,” he said. “The events are quite separate for both.”
Calls for greater inclusivity and a more cohesive student body resonated throughout all of the interviews, highlighting a desire for a more interconnected campus experience. Students expressed a desire for events and initiatives that bridge the gap between various groups, fostering relationships that extend beyond the classroom.
As the semester unfolds, it’s clear that while Stony Brook offers many opportunities, fostering deeper connections remains an essential goal to further bolster its vibrant community.
