By now, most new students have probably answered the age-old question, “Why did you choose the University of Idaho?” approximately 10,000 times, and at this point they”re sick of answering it.
While the question might seem like a valid thing to ask those coming to the university for the first time, returning students know just how silly of an inquiry it actually is. Students flock to UI because of Moscow.
It”s something that returning students realized long ago and if you”re a new student, you either understand already or you will soon enough.
Moscow is not just a college town. It sounds cliche and almost every college town in the U.S. has claimed the same thing, but with UI, it”s actually true.
Moscow is unique.
The value of this town lies in its community. Despite the fact that the number of people who live here more than doubles by the beginning of the school”s fall term, Moscow has its own distinct culture that can stand on its own without the students, staff or professors.
This culture can be seen in events that occur outside of the university throughout the year, such as the Moscow Farmer”s Market in the summer. Just walking down Main Street and observing the beautiful brick buildings and local businesses can make it clear. Most of all, the culture is seen in the people – the locals.
Of course, the people of the university definitely contribute to the community. How can they not, with how much we contribute to the area”s population? But rather than acting bitter about the amount of college students loitering around downtown, the people of Moscow embrace the individuals of UI and we work together to make Moscow the special community it is.
Through events like Homecoming and Moms” and Dads” Weekends, the Moscow community shines the brightest. The two cultures of Moscow and UI are woven so closely together it”s hard to tell them apart, but the university never overwhelms the culture of the town.
In return, the people of UI do their part to keep Moscow strong and beautiful. During events such as Serving Your New Community (SYNC) and other community service activities throughout the year, students, faculty and staff work to keep Moscow operating at its fully capacity. We keep the same local businesses we”ve grown to love thriving.
New students will soon learn when they visit other college areas, such as our friends a few minutes across the Idaho-Washington border at WSU, that Moscow is different.
Though the people of UI make up half of its population, we”re a part of the Moscow community, which is undeniably separate from the education we receive during the year, and we love it.
If you”ve arrived in Moscow for the first time, do yourself a favor and take the time to venture out of your room and off campus sometime. You won”t regret it.
–EB