I am at that point in my life where I can say that Funcie Muncie has been the place that I have called home for an entire semester. While some might find that statement depressing, I am actually quite enthused. The first semester of college is usually a "growing period" of sorts for most humans interested in the wide world of higher-education. They come to school with certain expectations which are usually shut down or surpassed within a few months. They are pushed outside of their comfort zone and, for the most part, their only worry is how to cope with a new kind of schooling. I, however, came to Muncie not with the mindset that I am a freshman. I didn't arrive here and think "I am here to be a student and learn to fit into this new school." I came here knowing that my trip to BSU was more of a transfer. I came here mainly to work.

Working on a campaign, you see a lot of politics: how the game is played, what the media will write about, what the media won't write about, what the people perceive from events and what they don't. Being a freshman, you see a lot of crazy: girls that can't cover their ass waiting for Greeks or Carters at any given time on Thursday- Saturday nights, runners... running... naked..., an irate and slightly creepy Captain Jack look-alike, freshmen experiencing their first hangover...

All beautiful, important things to see. I have also learned that beginning to study for a 7:30 am final at 2:32 am is a stupid, stupid plan.

However, when one looks beyond the superficial, usually drunken aspects of college life... they see politics. My first semester in Muncie has been a wild and crazy one. While the bodies went out drinking, I learned how the University Game was played- a game that I found, while being forced outside of my freshman bubble, is just as fast-paced and as vicious as campaign competition.

I thank my job for this exposure. Being on the campaign, I had to know virtually every Obama supporter and undecided voter on a personal level- it was my favorite part of my job. It is part of what made the job so compatible with me, as meeting new people is one of my favorite pastimes. Through the campaign I was able to meet a LOT of national and local politicians. However, it was through campus politics that I was introduced to lying, stealing and greed.

My mother and I were talking earlier today and she asked the cliche question "What has this semester taught you?" Reflecting upon it I realized I learned a jaded view of what I felt like I had to be as a successful leader on campus: At BSU, University Democrats and College Republicans don't like each other. I know that if an exec on College Republicans and I are in the same room, one better hope that the other is just passing through. I have had a student leader tell me "I use people and situations to my benefit and am an excellent liar, so I'm basically sure to be a great politician."

I am not okay with any of this. I don't lie. I don't use people. I don't befriend people for the petty reason of just being seen with them. After experiencing the entire smackdown over the early voting booth on campus, I knew that Delaware County politics was sticky, low and raw. However, I naively didn't expect it to seep into campus politics. Yet, unfortunately it has.

So, what have I learned from my first semester of college? That the next four years of my aspiring political career at BSU are going to be frustrating and trying. I have learned that I am going to have to "play the game" but change the rules. This campus is one of the most student-oriented I have ever seen. The student body has power and pull (unless they want an early voting booth on campus, thank you again Mr. Bruns) and, after reflecting upon the past four months, looking ahead I hope to God that they realize what's going on behind the scenes in university politics and help savor what little ethics it has.