OK, so a few of you asked me what I would change about Bucknell. Funny about 2 weeks ago I got invited to talk to the new Mg 100 class which was my first chance ever to address all the BSBAs EARLY in their academic lives. I wanted to end with this slide (but ran out of time…):
5 Things I Wish About Every Senior
But, this post is about one change I would like to see.
Don’t hate me. You asked.
Resist conformity.
That is it for me. In my experiences here as a teacher, mentor, and just community member, I almost always find students more engaging, vital, curious, and distinct people individually than in groups. I have this idea in my head that you collectively were more diverse before you came here. And you become so when you leave. So, what happens here? Why do students see the student body as a whole as career-ist, apathetic or conservative, party-oriented, grade-obsessed, superficial, and saccharine? In other words, my impression is that students on average imagine the student body as a whole to display qualities that they don’t think apply to them, personally.
But that makes no sense. It is like how Americans hate congress but love their congressperson. Congress is made up of all the representatives each district loves. Likewise, the student body is made up of all of you, one at a time. How can it be less full of authentic people than each of you individually?
Biz Gov Soc 
Jordi, I’m trying to wrap my head about your main argument here. Do you think this is a perception problem within Bucknell students that requires self-reflection in the student body or that not enough Bucknell students are willing to buck or question that seemingly-overwhelming stereotype?
Good question. Can I say both? More self-reflection would enable students to see that there is more internal diversity than they realize. More realization would enable more conformity-bucking. And I mean at very micro-levels, such as initiating conversations, changing language, altering how one sees oneself or friends.
Interesting thought. My quick two cents would say it’s a combination of both. However, some of this seems to be a function of groupthink in general, but awareness of one’s place within that group is just as important.