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I spent my first semester of college abroad in Strasbourg, France this fall — away from my friends, family and the Manhattan lifestyle I’d previously known as the norm. Yet somehow, I felt more connected to the outside world in France than I do on campus.

SU feels like its own microcommunity, one that separates students from the rest of Syracuse, the United States and global events. It seems to me like few students regularly venture out past the fraternity houses and dining halls; it’s like we’re stuck in a bubble.

Because student life is so campus-centric, we don’t truly reconcile our Syracuse experiences with that of the locals. There’s a considerable wealth gap between the students here and the residents of the city, but it seems like the student body we’re part of doesn’t recognize the difference in our realities as a collective community.

The city of Syracuse has one of the highest poverty rates in the nation, but the median income of a student’s family here is $113,800 — highlighting the stark difference between our experiences.

Several local residents outside the SU community experience poor public schools, transportation and a lack of access to affordable nutritious foods, among other inequalities most students aren’t exposed to on campus. The majority of public school students here live amid some of the most serious poverty in America.

When I chose SU, people warned me about crime and danger off campus.

I’ve noticed the attitude at SU toward the city of Syracuse is typically negative, and it seems to me these systemic disparities are what keep us disconnected and perpetuate the city’s diminished reputation on campus.

As a New York City native living near Central Park allows me to go for a jog or a walk to clear my head when I feel overwhelmed. But beyond needing a car to get most places, not to mention the weather that makes stepping outside hard to begin with, many students feel like they don’t have this same freedom at SU.

My friend and I ventured downtown for dinner out recently, despite the added effort and negative stigma around stepping off campus that keeps many students from exploring. Although it was frigid outside, the 20-minute walk to get to this restaurant felt strangely liberating. I was so happy to see beyond the university’s invisible borders and to read street signs other than Crouse and Comstock.

Crossing through fields of snow and encountering a local elderly man bundled up while walking his dog brought me a sense of comfort. It reminded me that people live regular lives just a few feet from one of the most expensive universities in the nation.

It felt meaningful to talk to people not affiliated with my school, people who have stakes in the Syracuse community and who are affected by policies and decisions made by the local government.

Compared to my current experience on SU’s campus, being abroad was less alienating day to day because we felt encouraged to go places, thanks to the accessibility of short-distance travel. Unlike the United States, Europe’s well-developed infrastructure meant walking or biking were the two most common and accessible ways of getting around, allowing me and my friends to expand our views of the world.

The way people in France seemed more invested in their communities was inspiring. The Syracuse Center was a part of Strasbourg and we as students were pushed to venture out and connect with other college students, work at local internships and live with host families.

The slower pace of life helped us interact at the boulangerie with locals, making me feel more connected to the residents and areas surrounding Strasbourg. Contrastingly, life at SU feels much faster and self-oriented, where people primarily focus on advancing their own careers.

It’s important for college students to have compassion for people outside of the communities we’re most familiar with. SU students should learn to understand the nuances of the entirety of our city — not just the university.

Although it’s a process, I have found different ways to feel more connected to the outside world while still living on campus. The first and most important thing for me is just getting outside. You’ve got to leave campus to discover what lies beyond the SU bubble.

I encourage every SU student to look at lives different from theirs with less indifference.
Most of us are here for four years or less, and there’s life worth seeing in Syracuse beyond grades, campus organizations and dorm rooms. Regardless of why you’re at SU, it’s vital to make the attempt to integrate yourself with this city’s issues.

I interviewed for a job with SU’s Community Folk Art Center and learned the reason it’s located downtown is to integrate the history of Syracuse locals with the university’s student body. There are institutions here to further our horizons, if we take advantage of them.

Organizations including CFAC and the Literacy Corps give us valuable opportunities to leave our bubble and engage with the broader Syracuse community.

A brisk walk to downtown Syracuse allowed me to get out of my head and connect with other people who possess goals and ideas not centric to SU. Any student can do the same — it requires removing yourself from campus culture mentally, not only physically. Now, to get past the alienation I feel here from the rest of the world, I know I can simply step off the hill.

Helena Sauriat is a freshman majoring in anthropology. She can be reached at hrsauria@syr.edu.

Published on March 4, 2025 at 10:30 pm