Two weeks ago, my column dealt with how NIU is a massively boring place. I bemoaned the fact that too many students leave every weekend, turning NIU into a ghost town.

I still think this would be a much more happening place if more students would just stick around to make it such. However, I seriously doubt it will happen in my lifetime. The sad reality is that NIU is inherently boring, and it will take monumental effort to change things.

I’m not referring to pitiful attendance at football games or the fact that you actually have to be 21 to enter a bar. The problem is much deeper and lies within the very psyche of the students.

Basically, there are two problems—segregation and overly high expectations.

Segregation is the result of this campus being laid out in such a way that different groups of students—dormies, Greeks, apartment residents, etc.—all live far away from each other.

Unlike other universities where one can walk out a door and be just blocks from a Greek house, bar or theater, NIU students at any one of these have to walk at least a mile and a half to get to one of the others.

Getting around on campus or in town is pretty much limited to those who have cars. Trudging to a party or downtown is all right, but the trip back—usually in a drunken or tired stupor—is downright painful.

Busing offers little compensation. Economics may have forced the move, but only NIU could come up with a bus route that takes people from the Student Center to the residence halls via downtown and Taylor Street.

Another problem has to do with high expectations. The real thing often is the exact opposite.

When college parties are depicted in movies or on television, directors tend to stretch the truth pretty far. Wide-eyed freshmen walk in and are amazed at the huge living rooms with plush furniture. Jaws drop at the sight of a wet bar and a really hot live band. The place is filled with gorgeous women, perfect-looking guys, and everyone is in ecstasy. And, of course, no one pays to get in.

eality, sadly, can play cruel jokes on us. Most real college parties start with a gruff demand of “THREE BUCKS” from a beer-drenched gorilla in an old football jersey.

Upon entering the house, we find the “live band” usually consists of somebody’s banged-up stereo turned up as loud as possible, playing massively distorted music. The typical night’s entertainment consists of scratchy Van Halen records or “Big Chill” soundtracks. Either way you don’t get to actually hear the music because the needle keeps skipping due to people jumping up and down.

Most “parties” are also held in houses with living rooms which are stripped of all furniture (Lord knows a 1950s overstuffed couch is hard to replace these days). Walls are barren, except for a hole or two, and the wet bar usually is replaced by warm foamy kegs with no pressure.

Getting served at one of these festivities involves standing in line for two hours to get that warm, foamy stuff only to have it spilled all over you by some guy who thought you were in his psychology class.

Sure, NIU is a boring place. It has its problems, but these can be solved. Students come here and expect NIU to be like other universities. But NIU is not like other colleges. NIU grew swiftly for a time, and things were laid out in such a way as to separate things. As a result there is sectional development with downtown, campus, dorms, apartments and Greek Row all occupying their little space.

The result of this separation, unfortunately, has led to groups keeping to themselves and a lack of understanding between the groups. Sure, traditions don’t just happen overnight. But a little socializing among the different NIU groups might be a good way to get something started.