One thing about me is that I like to complain. Even my family makes it clear to me.
Of course, not to the point where it inconveniences those around me, like workers in the service industry. I’m just saying what I’m thinking.
I can admit that it’s almost second nature for me, but why settle, when there’s better.
When I wrote my first column last year, I wasn’t sure of what I wanted to write, so, naturally, I ended up complaining.
I complained about having to go back and forth from Brownsville to the main campus in Edinburg, to the Visual Arts Building and how unfair some classes were to Brownsville students. The professors did not consider the students who had to come all the way from Brownsville just to join a Zoom meeting in an in-person class.
When I turned in my column to the copy editors, I thought to myself, “what did I just submit?” and started overthinking it.
I thought I was going to get in trouble or sound too whiny for complaining about something that everyone does on a day-to-day basis. I even thought the people who cross the bridge from Mexico every day have it worse than I do and they don’t complain, so, why should I?
Once the column was out, I was extremely nervous and tried to think that no one was going to read it.
Then, one of my friends sent me a photo of my column pinned up on a wall with highlighted sentences in the very building I complained about. And, they told me that a lot of people agree with my complaints, which made me feel a little better.
Another friend texted me that her professor pulled up my column in front of the class and said they agreed that the campus transportation is unorganized and not fit for class times.
My boyfriend also told me that people were talking about my column in a group chat with all the art major students and how they all agree on how tiring the transportation is.
There are even comments of long paragraphs under my column online adding on to the list of complaints, such as how people had to leave their classes early to catch the shuttle back to Brownsville and how some do not even have time to eat because of it.
Last semester, there was a town hall meeting where art students voiced their complaints to university officials about the condition of Rusteberg Hall, which UTRGV leases from Texas Southmost College in Brownsville.
During the commentary section at the end of the meeting, students started rapid-firing their complaints.
It was beautiful. Everyone said what everyone was thinking. Some brought up their personal experiences with the building’s state, the rodent infestation in Rusteberg Hall, Edinburg classes and how it has affected them throughout their academic career.
A couple of weeks later, there was a second town hall meeting pertaining to Rusteberg. In the meeting, it was brought up that UTRGV is going to buy a building in downtown Brownsville.
As of now, the proposal of a new building has been sent to UTRGV central administration.
Earlier this semester, the students and faculty from the School of Art and Design had a meeting in the Edinburg Visual Arts Building. Students raised concerns about the limited food choices in the vending machines. Then, faculty and students were coming up with solutions, suggesting partnering with food trucks and vendors to set up more food options inside the building.
This revolution of students asking why they cannot have a decent place to work, study or even to breathe clean air has motivated me to speak up more and to be OK with “complaining.”
Do not settle for “at least there’s a roof” when you can have a decent building.
You deserve more than the bare minimum. If you don’t like something, complain.
