Eastview vs Northridge

We've narrowed things down a bit and are now in what I like call the final two sets of two.  This week we'll pit the first two winners against each other: Eastview Campus versus Northridge Campus.  Both campuses will start with a clean slate, and this time students have the chance to speak for or against the campuses.  Let's get to it!

Eastview was almost eliminated before it got a chance to compete. When I had just begun conducting my interviews at Eastview I was picked up by the campus police as a solicitor.

After explaining I was from the school paper I was escorted to the Student Life office for clearance. It was vacant. The officer told me that I'd have to put my story on hold.

Fortunately Student Life Coordinator John Jacobs showed up right then. The officer explained the situation and Jacobs said he'd take it from there.  He asked me how many more interviews I needed, and was kind enough to round up some people for me – all of whom had the kindest things to say about Student Life.

EASTVIEW

*Classroom Size:
Chenetra Houston, a nursing major, has always been pleased with the size of her classes.

*Parking Capacity:
Estela Hernandes, an accounting technician major, is not a fan of Eastview parking.
"There's never any parking," said Hernandes.  "I don't like parking up the street and not being able to see my car."

Edith Peralta, a registered nurse major, has had a different experience with parking.
"I've got a parking permit," said Peralta.  "Most of the time I find parking."

*Why EVC:
Houston likes finding directions on the walls of each building at Eastview.  She usually has to ask people for directions at other campuses.

Nicholas Jones, a math major, chooses Eastview because of its Men of Distinction (MOD) program.  The program works on the recruitment and retention of African American males, Jones said.  He feels that the program has been very successful.

Houston and Peralta go to Eastview for the nursing program.

Hernandes said that the turnouts for the events are always very strong at Eastview.
"It's kind of like a family here," said Hernandes.

*Why Not EVC:
For the most part, students didn't have much bad to say about Eastview, but ACC student Krystal Shepard did have a few issues.

"The lounge is always crowded and loud," said Shepard. "The learning lab is really small."
To make sure the situation at Eastview was unique, I flashed my reporter's notebook in front of a a campus officer at Northridge and he didn't even bat an eye.  Northridge loses no points for harassing the media, but maybe I lose a couple points for taunting the police.
 
 

NORTHRIDGE ♔

*Classroom Size:
  Laura Powell, a communications major, has always had small classes.

 Bruce Buescher, a high school student taking college credit at Northridge, is pleased with the class sizes.

 "They're not too big or awkwardly small," said Buescher.

Student Bianca Flores loves the small classes.

"I think it's perfect because the teachers have more time to actually talk to you," said Flores.

Matt Johnston, a commercial music management major, likes how the small classes allow students to be close to the professor.

* Parking Capacity:
Powell lives closer to the Rio Grande campus but goes to Northridge because the parking is better.

Buescher has had a little bit of trouble with parking.

"If I leave myself ten to fifteen minutes, it's not so bad," Buescher said.

Johnston said that he hears a lot of people complaining about parking near the beginning of the semester.

* Why NRG:
Powell is a big fan of the teachers and the new landscaping.

Marissa Wilson, a biology major, thinks the campus is very open and pretty.

Johnston also approves of the scenery.

"I like having a lot of trees around, and a lot less buildings," said Johnston.

Flores enjoys how the music majors will often gather together in circles outside the buildings and play songs.

* Why Not NRG:
Gabriel Torres, a business management major, didn't want to say that the girls were ugly at Northridge, but he had heard his friends say that they were prettier elsewhere.

Wilson thinks that the cafeteria is kind of small.

"Whenever the weather isn't good, it's always packed," said Wilson.

Flores was not a fan of the inescapable secondhand smoke.

"Everywhere you turn there is someone smoking, and then it makes you smell like smoke, and I don't like it," said Flores.
 

• The students really seemed to like both their campuses, but in the end the Northridge students seemed to edge out Eastview in each of the categories. This can be seen in how they were more willing to point out its flaws. They admitted that it wasn't perfect, but they still loved going there. In a race this tight I guess that's enough to win it.

Congrats Northridge, you're off to the final round!