Harrison Baer
Last September, Furman received a whoopin from Hurricane Helene. The damage toll included tree topped cars, a painstakingly long Wifi-blackout, and, bless the lord, an entire week off class. But even amidst chaos there was treasure to be found. Thanks to the wild whipping winds of the tropical storm, certain outdoor items had been scattered about campus in a disorderly manner. One of these was a large, purple, four by two banner boldly emblazoned with “Furman Advantage”, which was found, grounded, by a suitmate of mine. Instead of leaving litter behind, he decided to temporarily borrow the banner. Today, it can be found as wall decor in my dorm, hanging just above my sweet flat-screen TV.
Last night, while I was working out my thumbs (playing Fortnite) with my roommate, I found myself glancing at the banner, each time wondering – what was this “Furman Advantage”? Was it a ploy to bolster admission rates? A marketing distraction so the university could raise already risen tuition costs? Or was there a well thought out plan, a philosophy, a science behind this so called “advantage”?
The next day, I sat in my Bible and Ultimate Meaning class, scribbling on the back of a bible characters handout because the professor had banned computers. All of the sudden, I was hit with a stark realization. And it was not the fact that I had tuned out the first ten minutes of the lecture. This was the first time I had picked up a pen and put ink on paper since last May at Furman. My hand ached, and ink smudged the page as I fought to form legible words, but for the first time in months, I was creating something tangible. It was the archaic art of calligraphy – a practice gone nearly extinct since the creation of the Macbook. The temptation of sudoku or social media surfing was absent. Had I actually been listening to the lecture, like I was supposed to, I might’ve absorbed something about the bible too.
Advantage #1: The Archaic Art of Caligraphy
Later that day, I dropped by Riley Hall to catch up with my favorite professor at Furman, Dr. Kevin Treu. Popping my head into his office, I was met with a semi-stink eye, because he was well aware I was about to unload a barrage of wickedly clever anecdotes and hilarious banter. But before I could begin my tangent, he asked, “So how was Edinburgh?”
Now this was a standard question I’ve received from family and friends since returning to the States, but this man was my professor. Seven months had passed since my semester abroad was planned, yet he remembered. I smiled, because that small moment reminded me why he’s been the most impactful professor I’ve had at Furman.
Dr. Treu’s class was the first I walked into after I transferred from Clemson. I knew nearly nothing about my new university, and my expectations, honestly, weren’t too high. I was unsure of what to study and certainly didn’t know how to study. But after 4 months of Treu, I was a confident computer science major, and had learned how to prepare for big tests. And, most importantly, this wasn’t because I needed to keep up with coursework or boost my GPA. Dr. Treu made students WANT to participate in class.
He would hook us with a question of the day, answered by every student, to begin class every time. He did not tell us how to debug a code: he asked us. He remembered each of our names and commended us for answering his questions. And although Dr. Treu had moments where he struck terror into the hearts of his students — like if you went to the bathroom, or if nobody responded to his question and he glared at us like we were a bunch of lemons — his teaching style and dedication to computer science captured the attention of his audience. He didn’t have to tell us to put down our computers, because we did not have them out.
Advantage #2: The Fear Factor and a Professor Who Invested in His Students
Now this next advantage doesn’t concern academics; it’s related to the nature of a small school. Attending a university with two thousand students means everyone knows everyone. Also, Furman students LOVE to talk, and more specifically, talk about each other. Yes, as you may assume, this is incredibly annoying. Even more annoying for a new student coming in after everyone knows everyone. Then you’re the really new kid.
The consequences of this hit me like an F-150 one week into school, when the friends I’d made on my hall told me about a group of people saying some not-so-kind stuff about me. I asked who was part of this chat, and my buddy listed off four people that I had never met or even heard of. Imagine that, your character dragged through the mud, just when you’re trying to settle into a new home, by complete strangers.
So came the lesson, that at Furman, anything you do or say will be gossiped about rampantly throughout the student body. It’s not a pleasant feature of the university, but it has one very powerful benefit: you’re held accountable for your actions. Now, as someone who can be a bit goofy, and at times make a less than thoughtful decision, this can be a painful situation. And since arriving at my new university, it’s possible I’ve made a few mishaps. But I cannot stress enough how helpful this has been to me. How I’ve been forced to mature and reflect on my mistakes. The growth wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t been stuck in this gossip bubble. So, maybe there’s something positive about people speaking behind your back.
Advantage #3: The Backstabbing but Surprisingly Beneficial Bubble
So, although I have no idea what the real ‘Furman Advantage’ is, there’s something to be said about this quaint, somewhat unheard of university outside Greenville, SC. It certainly has its flaws, like lying to me about getting my own room, but the growing pains have been worth it. And if it weren’t for the sticky fingers of the banner bandit, the Furman advantage might’ve remained a mystery forever.