Overcrowding affects everyday campus life

The university continues to deal with a surge in enrollment, bringing the student body near capacity.

At a recent convocation speech, Maxson singled out faculty support, a strong University Library and campus identity as areas of concern. Housing, course availability and financial aid have also been discussed in light of a growing number of students.

Despite being a tremendous inconvenience, overcrowding has not yet changed my perception of CSULB as a great place to get an education.

At the beginning of each semester I stand without complaint in a line at the bookstore that snakes so far back that I cannot see the end from the beginning. Once in a while, I willfully wait up to 20 minutes at the ATM to get the cash I need to buy my two-item, Chinese-food combo.

I even tolerate half-hour waits at the admissions window in Brotman Hall only to get treated like a dog by some underpaid and overworked administrator.

I am prepared to occasionally devote this extra time, effort and patience for the opportunity to attend this great school.

But I would like a place to sit.

Overcrowding at CSULB has eliminated sufficient and qualified space for me to park my derriere.

While walking in front of the University Library on a recent sunny day, I could not find a single spot on a bench or chair to sit in the shade. Small groups of students huddled close together, occupying every square inch of available seating.

The following day I walked through the University Student Union in search of some space on one of the many comfortable blue couches, and I was again denied.

Inside the library, outside The Nugget, in the hallways -- nowhere can I find a place to take the weight off my feet.

Last year I was repeatedly forced to sit on the floor in a class I had signed up for well in advance because the instructor wanted to include every one of the incredible number of petitioning students.

And rather than be squished into a balmy shuttle bus where I must stand, not sit, in a tiny isle, I will often walk the equivalent of Beijing to Paris to get to my class from the far reaches of Lot 14 where I frequently have to park my car.

It is the little, day-to-day things, such as not being able to sit down, or having to dart through unbelievably crowded hallways, that typically get overlooked in our discussions on bigger overcrowding issues. Sufficient support for faculty is very important; but what of the steadily declining level of comfort and convenience? Shouldn't the quality of our everyday lives on campus be a big issue as well?

Maxson specified the university's capacity at 33,000 students, a number we are fast approaching, and said that any more would be a disservice to the students.

Based on my daily experiences among the throngs, I would say we are already well beyond capacity.

John Caldwell is a senior print journalism major. His column appears weekly.