At The Fe

Santa Fe is Gainesville’s most known, but unknown second school. Completely eclipsed by the greatness that is The University of Florida, Santa Fe is that school on the other side of town, completely segregated from us “Real College Students” over here on the “Good Side of Town”. It’s that mystery area that is only visited when organizations do community service. The students at Santa Fe are those legends that you hear about in The Black Community, but only ever see at Local Night on Saturdays.

Although Santa Fe is nowhere near the level of UF, it’s the school that The Black Community secretly roots for. Even though the whole atmosphere of the school is worse than FAMU (No Really….), The Black Community still has respect for Santa Fe, because it’s still NOT the FAMUly. Santa Fe is Gainesville Local Central. The campus is abound with lacefronts, Baby Phat T-shirts 2 sizes too small with the stretch marks out, Girbaud Jean Shorts, and Tall Tees with the sticker still attached. You gotta represent out here. It’s like walking back into High School from 2004. Step onto that campus, and you’d think you walked onto the set of “Don’t Be a Menace To South Central”. All the terrible Black Stereotypes are there: Females are in class with their 2-month old babies, every guy is a rapper, and at least one girl has that traditional weave with that maroon streak in it. Ebonics is the national language, and if you’ve been hanging around Kelsey and Bryce too long at UF, everything will sound like gibberish. Try translating: “Aye Cuz, Deeze Shawty’s Aut Hea Alwayz Tryna Rope Bout Foe Ninjas Like Da Po-Pos”! The even look up to UF Students as Gods of the Black College World. Even more so than we UF Students see ourselves as the savior of The Black Race. To the hoodrats that attend Santa Fe, all UF Males look like those light-skinned dudes from Tyler Perry Movies, and all UF Girls look like those sexy girls in Rap Music Videos. If only these illusions were true, UF girls wouldn’t be trying so hard to get backstage every time Big Sean comes into town. When he has an album in stores, mind you.

But despite all these horrifying factors, everyone just throws that Kanye Shrug and keeps it moving. It’s acceptable because they’re locals. It’s foolish to reprimand them for their actions, they don’t know any better. And that’s where Santa Fe gets its charm and subsequent respect. The main difference between Santa Fe and FAMU is that we expect the FAMUly to do better. FAMU students are supposed to be the REAL Black College students, promoting change and doing everything we see in Stomp The Yard and Drumline, but instead they’re trying to go to that afterparty following Chuch! Service, and joining the latest Greek Organization for people who only drink Fiji Water. Dasani be damned! At least Santa Fe Students are trying to better themselves in education so they can pay their child support on time.

The benefit that Santa Fe provides for the UF Black Community is a scholarship fail-safe. When going to The Venue becomes a bigger motivation than going to class, Santa Fe is there to catch you, as Criser Hall burns all your paperwork and failed tests. They might be more reliable than State Farm. Santa Fe is also a launching pad for those wanting to do something with their future once they get off work from Burger King. All it takes is two years "At The Fe" and one can transfer to become one of the snooty UF Elite, looking down on all other schools with a sense of entitlement. Santa Fe is that last option for finishing school once all forms of scholastic achievement have failed. And it’s only sort of demeaning. Hell, Santa Fe just became Santa Fe College now, so they have a tiny drop of clout. The redeeming factor is you get to remain in Gainesville, so it’s still possible to attend all those social events and parties, now just without the added pressures of exerting effort in school.

The thing most UF Students don’t know is that Santa Fe actually plays a strong role in the shaping of The Black Community here at UF. In fact, about half of the people sitting on The Set wearing their Gator Backpacks actually go to Santa Fe! They’re just living in secret. It’d be great to have some “Santa-Fe Goggles” and be able to spot Santa Fe students on The Set trying to live that UF Lifestyle. If anyone has ever wondered why certain individuals only show up on campus for social events, they might be a Santa Fe Secret Agent.

As much as we UF students love to laugh at the prospect of Gainesville Locals going to school, we still appreciate them as members of the Gainesville community. After all, they still come and support UF Black Community Events, and are the prime reason why Downtown Nightlife is so popular. Us broke college students aren’t going to pay 50$ at the door to see some dumb drunk college girls. And who else is going to make it rain in the club to see girls break down to their basic instincts? And nothing else makes a better story than how you had to escape LaShawnQuavious after he grabbed your elbow and tried to buy you a drink, or how many girls you can spot still wearing those Sports Jersey Dresses. Thank You, Gainesville Community, and Thank You Santa Fe.