Hi reader, if you are an undergraduate here at EMU you might have noticed a few students in your classes (normally sitting in the back) that are unfamiliar to you. Those people might just be graduate students. We are a smaller population on campus, but we exist across different majors and come from every background imaginable. 

From the perspective of a biomedicine major, there is a significant disconnect between the graduate students from different programs. This is a naturally occurring issue across majors, but what is lacking is a space set up for all the graduate students to mingle and meet one another. The biomed students in particular are lucky as we do have a space we can (and do) all gather in: the Rutt House on campus. It is great to have this space that is uniquely made for us to use because without it, there would not be a space for everyone to collaborate. Most importantly, Rutt is used for a lot of events created by the program, which reminds students not living on campus of this space that we have. 

Additionally, as you walk around the beautiful EMU quad, it is almost impossible to tell a graduate student from an undergraduate. We blend right into the student body. Our presence on campus isn’t known unless someone points it out or singles you out. In the classroom, there are some professors that make the graduate students in the room known. The theoretical role of a graduate student is to be a model for the undergraduates, provide mentorship, and share experiences. Being pointed out by faculty members allows the door to open for that to take place, but if that is not happening, that door will most likely remain closed. 

Overall, from the opinion of a graduate student, it is evident that EMU has been able to cultivate a comfortable campus culture to work non-competitively with others, and is a place that welcomes both traditional and nontraditional paths. But it could use more set up spaces for these interactions to take place in. Also, if you are feeling hesitant to speak to one of the graduate students, don’t! We don’t bite, I promise.