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The Mac Weekly

The Student News Site of Macalester College

The Mac Weekly

Mac Speaks: What do you want from your community?

First+year+Anna+Fincangonofo.
First year Anna Fincangonofo.
First year Anna Fincangonofo.
First year Anna Fincangonofo.

What were your expectations of the Macalester community before you arrived on campus?

I expected people to be really nerdy and intelligent. I didn’t have many other expectations, though, so when I got here I wasn’t going to be hugely disappointed. I wanted to wait and see what the experience would be. I also expected the professors to be really formal with suits and briefcases and kind of intimidating. Then one day my professor comes in with sandals and jeans, really casual. That surprised me, but in a good way.

How did your perception of the Mac community change after you arrived on campus?

I don’t think anything has really stuck out so far. It’s only been a few weeks. It did surprise me how open people are. People will talk about anything. It was surprising how people are still really open to others even after Orientation is over. Professors are also all really easy to talk to. I can go to their office hours and just sit there and talk with them. If in class something they say goes completely over my head I can always go afterwards and have anything clarified.

What do you like most about the Macalester community?

I really like how open everyone is. I work at Café Mac, and after work I see tables pushed together with groups of people who are so eager to be with each other and have conversations. I think that’s really cool. The orgs are also really open to first years, which is nice. Organizations that stood out to me were the Queer Union and the Identity Collective. I also think I might try to get involved in the Macalester Investment Group. It sounds really interesting. All the clubs sound really cool. There are so many opportunities to get involved, and it’s so easy. I also thought it would be hard to make friends, but it really wasn’t. I just sat out in the lounge and people came out and talked. As long as I left my room it was pretty easy to find people to connect with. I think I’ve had a conversation with everyone on my floor because when you walk out the door and make eye contact it is really easy to start talking. It’s really easy to start a conversation with anyone.

What do you feel is missing in the Macalester community?

I don’t really think there is much missing. I would probably say diversity. When everyone is in the same room you can see that in some cases there isn’t much diversity. In one of my classes I’m the only person of color. Still, I’ve met a lot of international students and students of color which is really great.

What do you hope for or expect going forward in the Macalester community?

I expect it to be really awesome. There are so many opportunities that I want to take advantage of. I think next year, sophomore year, is when I can get more heavily involved in some organizations. I’m still figuring it all out now.

What do you want the Macalester community to look like in fifteen years?

Maybe more diversity. It’s already pretty good compared to a lot of places. So, I don’t really know. That could be applied to almost every college. Maybe more political diversity as well. I identify as more liberal, but I think it’s really important for everyone to see both sides.

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