“Ugh, there’s nothing to do in Buffalo.”
It’s something we’ve all heard, and a few of us may have even been known to say
from time to time.
A college student in his natural state, if he’s not sleeping or in class, is almost always
bored, searching for some new form of stimulation.
In this highly interconnected information age, we’ve been conditioned to expect the
world’s best and most entertaining content to be at our fingertips at all times. Oddly
enough, there are only so many cute baby videos and cat-based memes you can see
before you feel like you’ve seen them all.
The truth is, there’s plenty to do in Buffalo. Much of it happens on campus.
The English department hosts poetry readings, the Burchfield Penney hosts art
exhibits and United Students Government and the Residence Hall Association both
host multiple free events each week.
What’s more, there are dozens of student clubs and organizations that are free to
join and cater to interests ranging from video games to archaeology and everything
in between. For many of their activities, you don’t even have to be a member to
participate.
You can choose from movie screenings, game nights, sporting events and more.
They’re all funded by the mandatory student activity fee, so it’s foolish not to take
advantage of them. But there’s one catch: you have to go out and do it.
If you’re paying for these things, why not participate in them? Never mind that
college tends to get easier the more involved you are. Or that dozens of people spent
their free time to give you the opportunity.
When you attend a collegiate-level institution, you’re not only going so you can
graduate. A degree is nothing more than a fancy piece of paper.
What’s more important is the college experience. What you do and who you meet
during your collegiate years will define you much more than what it says on your
degree.
As a commuter-heavy campus, Buffalo State students sometimes don’t get as
involved as those on other campuses, particularly at schools with large resident
populations. But commuters still have plenty of ways to pass the time.
Buffalo, as the largest Metropolitan area in Western New York, is a cultural diamond
in the rough. You’ve got the Buffalo Zoo, the Botanical Gardens, a critically acclaimed
theater district nestled between architectural wonders and hundreds of bars and
restaurants.
Now that the clocks have turned back and it’s getting colder outside, complaints
of “nothing to do” are sure to double.
Just remember that this is college. Even if you’ve lived in Buffalo your whole life,
there’s always something to do.
Enjoy the opportunities that are presented to you. They won’t be there for long.