North Texas Daily

In a few short weeks, I’ll walk across the stage at the Super Pit, accept my diploma and leave the University of North Texas a better person. But it’s safe to say that it’s not just me who’s changed.

I’ve been here for three-and-a-half years now, and I can honestly say from the bottom of my heart that this university has grown by leaps and bounds since I first moved into Maple Hall my freshman year.

This change is largely due to the students, professors, faculty and staff, and their desire to change the culture that surrounds our great university. But I’m not here to talk about those that are pushing us forward; I’m here about the ones who continue to hold us back from achieving greatness.

What’s missing from this school that is preventing you from having and sort of spirit? Is our football team not good enough? Last I checked, we could be a lot worse. Dan McCarney has whipped our program into shape, compared to the days of Todd Dodge. Our basketball team goes to the conference finals every year. We dominate the Sun Belt in almost every sport, and we’ll do the same in Conference USA.

I understand why you’re here. Maybe you’re planning on transferring somewhere else. I had those dreams too. Guess what, you’re probably not going anywhere else. Statistically speaking, you’re probably going to graduate from here. Maybe you can’t afford anywhere else. That’s a perfectly valid reason to come here. In fact it’s one of the reasons that UNT is so amazing.

This school continuously ranks in the top 10 of U.S. News and World Report’s best colleges in terms of value. UNT is a great school, and a degree from here is worth at least double of what you’re paying.

Some students on this campus need to stop acting like it’s the end of the world when the Student Government Association asks for an extra $110 a semester so we can afford a new Union. Students lacking spirit use these phony complaints and millions more like them to explain why they don’t support the school, and each excuse is pettier than the last.

When I walked onto this campus three years ago, UNT was considered a glorified community college by my friends who went elsewhere. Now, they don’t dare speak ill of the Mean Green. If they can learn to respect what this campus has to offer, can’t you?

Nicholas LaGrassa is an emergency administration and planning senior. He can be reached at nicholaslagrassa@my.unt.edu.