How would you define a community?

Hmmm…that’s a good question, it’s worth thinking about. I would define a community as a group of people that are together for a common reason or a common purpose, usually in a common area.

Do you think it is easier to create a community with one larger goal in mind, even if some members may have smaller goals in mind?

I think that there are many different types of communities, from very loose – not many things in common – to communities that are very strong: not necessarily because they all have common goals but because they work together to make a better environment. They don’t have to be similar goals, but I do think there needs to be some awareness of other members of the community.

Would you say that identify with a community or communites?

I do, I really do. I feel like I’m a part of the Gustavus community, the community where I live, when I am taking classes I feel that I am part of the schools that I am going to. I generally feel like I’m a part of anything that I’m invested in.

Would you say the Gustavus community matches those things you described?

I do think Gustavus is more focused on it, definitely more so than others. Even as a school, I’ve gone to a couple of different schools as part of my studies, and I really do feel like Gustavus tries. It’s part of their agenda and goals – to be a community. And, I think certain people push that goal more than others. Just to give an example, something I really enjoyed: There was a panel last semester with professors to talk about events with police shootings and whatnot and to focus on that. I don’t think very many schools would do something like that. You know, just that it’s part of our dialect. We demonstrate that there really are people working to try to have a community.

-Stacie Miller

Beneath The Crown is a project created by Nick Theisen (‘15). It is inspired by Humans of New York (HONY) and aims to bring the community of Gustavus Adolphus College closer together by providing the perspectives of the many different people who live and work on campus here at Gustavus.