Throughout my time at Pace, I have taken classes in both New York City and Pleasantville. This is partially because I live much closer to the city campus and take classes for my minor there, while I am also “stationed” in Pleasantville because of my major.
The life on both campuses is so opposite as well. Ali C, a Pace alum, lived in both NYC and PLV during her time.
“I’d say the Elm suite was by far the best, and the kitchen and laundry were so convenient and great in Elm. And PLV was nice because it is so beautiful,l and I felt safe enough to go on walks at night, which I definitely missed when I was in the city. The NYC dorm sucked — it was tiny, and there were laundry fires, and I think my room had mold. But, there is nothing like living in NYC, so I was so happy to have that experience, and the buildings and classes were worlds better in NYC. For anyone who likes NYC, I’d 100% recommend the city campus, and I wish I had started taking classes in the city sooner. And I actually found the people on the students on the city campus super nice, and people in class would talk to each other, which made up for the fact that it wasn’t a traditional campus.”
Cadence Ignoffo, a junior NYC student, has also spent so much time in PLV for PaceDocs last semester.
“Both campuses are special to me because I’ve met the kindest and most interesting people at both, and I feel so lucky to have the privilege to have known them. It’s funny because when I picked the NYC campus, I never thought I’d go up to PLV, but I’m very glad I did end up visiting.”
The fact that Pace students have the option to experience both a typical and city college life should be a selling point for the university, with One Pace being a massive statement used by the university. Many would argue that the statement holds no weight. Many students don’t even know half of what’s happening on each campus, which is extremely disappointing and feels like one big fumble. The differences are so vast that I genuinely feel like I go to two opposite schools. There is so much potential to unify and truly be One Pace, and I believe it is up to the student body to start some sort of unofficial merger.
Usually, when I am on the NYC campus, I notice keen differences. Obviously, there is the setting aspect. The buildings and city create a different yet appealing atmosphere – depending on who you are. However, many communities stay the same, but are disconnected. CCAR has offices in both campuses, but the students never meet. The Pace Chronicle and Pace Press are also two organizations that rarely meet as well.
The entirety of the Pace community is lost in this separation. The sub-communities of each campus create a sort of competition-style energy; I think it’s ridiculous. There should not be so many differences between these campuses; it should be advertised more to students about taking classes in both. It should be more open for kids to join clubs on the other campus. It feels like one of those corporate companies that have offices in different states, and the employees never meet.
It kind of gives the same energy as Scranton vs Stamford vs Binghamton vs (you get it) from The Office. You’re working for the same “big boss,” but there is still competition. You rarely meet, rarely have to go to the other office. In the TV show, Branch Wars (S4 E10) actually combines each branch for one big day of games. I am not saying we have to plagiarize this format, but the campuses should work together to make more interconnected events, especially with organizations that run on both campuses.
Classes are offered on both campuses, and this is part of the divide and decline in interest from students. Most kids in the NYC campus are just interested in coming to the football games, not in taking classes. Why would they be, anyway? It’s mostly PLV students who need to travel for the classes they want. Classes that were once exclusively taught on PLV have been given a counterpart in NYC, but the opposite isn’t happening.
Many PLV students tend to take classes in NYC, especially since many majors offer more classes there. But the opposite isn’t necessarily true for NYC students. In my classes on the city campus, I constantly get asked what Pleasantville is like, and I usually say the same: the stereotypical college campus.
There are truly only a handful of students who know the ins and outs of both campuses.
Evan Mahanna, a junior at Pleasantville, talks about the commute between both campuses. His major mostly offers classes in NYC, despite taking it in PLV.
“It’s logistically challenging because I have to take time out of my day to take the shuttle even though I’m paying to be on the Pleasantville campus.”
Riley Campbell, a senior PLV student, relates to this.
“Since there were a few classes I couldn’t take at Pleasantville, I decided to go to the city campus, and it honestly couldn’t be better! That’s an exaggeration, but I do really love being able to take the shuttle in the morning and seeing the sun rise over the Hudson. I also think the city campus classes are a little higher quality. The only complaint I have is that I wish there were more runs, since I usually have to wait an extra few hours after my classes for the shuttle.”
So, what exactly can be done about this (besides just connecting via Fizz, which isn’t even available for Android users, or Instagram)?
For starters, advertise classes on each campus! Encourage students to experience both, and not just on the “senior year checklist” we get during our freshman year. Push for community and combined events, with the possibility of adding more shuttles that go. Another significant initiative is forming a partnership with Metro-North, which would offer students a discount on rides. It’s $20 for me to get to and from sometimes, which is an insane amount for any college student.
Specifically, for us media majors, there should be more of a unity amongst us. The PLV Digital, Cinema, and Filmmaking major requires a class for each graduating senior in the major called Directing. Creating a pipeline to NYC’s SANDS School of Acting and PLV’s MCVA will benefit those who want to act in films and those who need actors.
If you are a SANDS student and interested in this collaboration for next spring or future semester, please email [email protected]
Holding some sort of communication with your organization’s counterpart would also be really beneficial. This can lead to combined events, a stronger understanding of the school, and meeting new people! One Pace is possible with you.