Acorn

Issue date: 2/8/08 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: tcgionline.com

Anyone who knows me understands that one thing I will not bend to is the argument that New York City is not the center of the world. Say what you like, The City that Never Sleeps-home of Broadway, Lincoln Center, Greenwich Village, Madison Avenue, The New York Times, the best bagels and pizza, countless performance spaces, independent book stores, art museums, some of the world's greatest artists and now, the Super Bowl XLII Champs-is the greatest city in the world. It is a center of culture and ideas. It is the place for East Coast nightlife. It is filled with people from all walks of life, all nationalities, speaking more languages than you can count.

It is a 63-minute train ride from Drew University. And this week, at least that part of the New York experience was free.

One of the criteria I had when I was on that epic adventure known as the college search was that wherever I went to school had to be near a city. I had a few in mind-Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles-but my main concern was that there was reachable urban life. When it came down to choosing Drew, The Forest's proximity to New York only made my decision easier.

With Manhattan only about an hour away, Drew students have the world at their fingertips. And yet, not as many Drewids utilize this bottomless resource as you'd think. It's easy-and considerably cheaper-to get caught up in campus life on the weekends. I highly encourage my fellow students to become involved with the University and to spend their free time with their friends and classmates at Drew, which as I have previously written, is also a center of life and ideas. However, there are only so many nights you can spend drinking Keystone in the Suites or eating mozzarella sticks at the Space. And while I am a big proponent of sleeping in-ask anyone who has tried to get me up before noon on a Saturday-I think that a groggy train ride and three cups of coffee is a fair price to pay for a day on the streets of New York.

And while I am quick to say that New York is the place to be, I also am not blind to the fact that it is very expensive. And New Jersey Transit is only free two weeks out of the year. But there are ways around that-especially for students. Many theaters and museums give student discounts, and the Museum of Modern Art is free to the public on Friday nights. The Metropolitan Museum requires only a donation, so the price is up to you. While there are plenty of swanky and exclusive clubs for those city-goers with refined tastes, there are also tons of bars that sell $2 beers.

Unfortunately, the subway will always be $2-or more-but city blocks are short, and what's better than walking the streets of Manhattan? Just steer clear of Times Square unless you're there for a reason.

New York is a city of opportunity. I think that's something that Drew students learn as they become upperclassmen. Internships in New York are priceless. Whatever you want to do, you can find it in New York. Those of you who are still getting used to Drew, I encourage you to at least take one venture into New York before your first year is over. Even though the train was only free this week, I guarantee that you'll find the trip worth it-whenever you go. If you are reading this on Friday, you've still got one more day of free transit. Please make the most of it.

There are some things that you are better off doing in New Jersey-like seeing a movie. However, if you'd like to open your world up tenfold, get on that train.

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