What defines the Muhlenberg experience? Some say it is the community. Others say it is the academics. Still more say that it is defined by the clubs or the professors. The list could go on. But how do the seniors define the Muhlenberg experience? The Weekly talked to a number of seniors to get their perspective on what their time at Muhlenberg was like.
Many seniors mentioned the small community, highlighting how it was their favorite part of their undergraduate experience. Evan Lipman ‘24 said “My favorite part was the sense of community, where you can walk around and see people you know. Muhlenberg just has a homey feeling.”
Kayla Hartman ‘24 shared a similar sentiment, saying, “I loved the social experience and all the people I have gotten to meet and friends I have made.” Another senior added to that, reflecting that “I like how with a small community you get to know a lot more people than you otherwise would be able to.”
In addition to making friends, others found the small community to be beneficial in other ways. Mayu Lee ‘24 shared that “I think it’s having the people around me, especially the upperclassman when I was an underclassman. Having them to create a safe space for me helped me to explore myself and become a better version of myself.”
Others noted that the Muhlenberg community extended beyond just the students and that professors reflected the same close-knit community found among their peers. Arielle Touitou ‘24 shared that her favorite part of her Muhlenberg experience has been “The music department as a whole. Every class I have ever taken has been wonderful; the faculty are amazing.” She also liked how in general, “the fact you can be interdisciplinary is a great aspect of Muhlenberg.”
While the Muhlenberg community was a favorite for seniors, some found the small community to be problematic at times. Noah Berger ‘24 commented that because of the size, “everyone knows your business.” Lipman added to that, saying, “Because of the size, you need to look around before shit-talking someone.”
Lee found that despite the small size, it can be easy to only be exposed to one group of people. She reflected that “it can be really easy to get caught in a clique or niche, and I think there is a lack of overlap among certain groups. For example, athletes and theatre students do not often overlap. As someone who is an athlete and also does theatre, art and film, I was able to be a part of different groups on campus, but that is not something everyone is able to do.”
Talking to seniors, then, it seems that Muhlenberg’s small student body and close-knit community are what define the Muhlenberg experience. And while, like with all things, there are some drawbacks to it, a close and supportive community will remain a defining part of the Muhlenberg experience for years to come.
