There are common phrases in the Drury lexicon regarding what it means to be a Panther: small class sizes, close-knit community, walking down Drury Lane and greeting every familiar face.

Incoming students are bombarded with the notion that Drury is unique among colleges, not dissimilar from only state schools but also from other liberal arts institutions. With the introduction of Drury’s new curriculum, “Your Drury Fusion,” which emphasizes both the practical and the academic, Drury can sometimes feel as though it is having an identity crisis – perhaps because it is trying to be everything all at once.

So, what really makes the “Drury difference” students hear so much about? Drury’s uniqueness may lie in the fact that it means something different to everyone.

Liberal arts and caring faculty and staff

Alyssa Everett is a third-year honors student who transferred from Ozarks Technical Community College (OTC). “The main reason I wanted to come here from OTC was because it was a liberal arts school. It was either here or MSU, and I wanted to go here more because of that aspect,” stated Everett.

The staff and faculty at Drury are considered integral to the Drury experience by many students. The majority of Drury’s professors hold doctorate degrees in their fields of study, plus they truly value their individual students’ successes.

Everett said, “I haven’t met a teacher who doesn’t care about each student and how they’re doing, in school and in their personal life.”

“You can go to a teacher’s office and ask them your problems and they’ll personally help you with them. You see them in the Commons and just ask, ‘Hey, how do I get this done?’” said Persias Tadiwala, an international student.

Unique Greek life experience

Drury is known for having a unique Greek life, and it is often not what students expect as incoming freshmen.

“It’s not what you see in the movies. It’s more academic, more philanthropic. We do a lot of volunteer work. It feels like a big family,” Tadiwala said, smiling. “I feel like I found family halfway around the world. I do get homesick, but I feel like I’ve found belonging.”

There’s a great sense of community both within and between sorority and fraternity chapters at Drury. Fraternities and sororities are paired with each other as part of an exchange, and they host joint events. There is not much isolation or rivalry between the houses.

Special traditions

Throughout the year, a number of events happen at Drury that create a sense of bonding and community among students.

One such event, Overflow the O, is coming up on Feb. 9. Overflow the O is arguably the most popular Drury basketball game of the season. Drury students and alumni are challenged to fill every seat in the O’Reilly Event Center to watch the Panthers in action.

“At Overflow the O, we have a tradition: we paint ourselves and mostly cheer for our team. We boo the other team too, though,” Tadiwala joked. “People feel a lot of pride for our Panthers. I feel like that’s important for a Division II school, yet we still have huge turnouts for our games.”

There are also many highly anticipated events outside of athletics. Drury’s Resident Life Association puts on a campus-wide Easter egg hunt every year. Hundreds of Easter eggs are spread across campus, with prizes promised to those who can find them. Many students claim these prizes every year, some even going home with gift cards for finding the extremely rare golden eggs.

The best part of a rich student life on campus is that it is facilitated by Drury students. Students know what students want to see and do, and each year events are planned and executed by students who want to enhance their college experience. At Drury, every student has the opportunities and tools to create change for both themselves and their peers.

Quirky social media presence

Social media is its own realm when it comes to culture, and Drury is no exception.

Twitter is home to accounts such as @DU_crushes_, where students can send anonymous love letters and crush confessions, @DruryCafCritic, where students get updates on the tastiest food around campus, and @DUconspiracy, a relatively new account where students can submit silly jokes about Drury.

All of these accounts are run by students and are not affiliated with Drury at all, but are simply meant to give students a place to have fun and make jokes. While the content is sometimes critical or questionable, these accounts generate content that is usually lighthearted and relatable to Drury students.

“It’s great – it’s very different. All of the friends I have on Twitter from Drury, we’re really funny people,” Everett laughed. “It definitely adds to the culture, but it sheds light on who we are as a generation with how we use social media.”

Drury Grounds, @DruryGrounds on Twitter, is also known throughout campus for their social media posts and contests. Not many schools can claim that their grounds crew is so beloved and such an integral part of their campus culture.

A plethora of clubs and organizations

Individualism is a key word when it comes to the Drury community. People care deeply for their friends whom they bond with during their years here, and that earnestness brings students to events and causes they might not otherwise attend.

There’s a wide variety of students at Drury; it’s rare to meet anyone who exists solely in a single space. Organizations and events on campus bring students together in unlikely ways.

“Coming from OTC, there were no sports or extra organizations. Here, everyone has their extracurriculars and activities, so you see more of a personality in people,” Everett explained.

“It’s very easy because you have all these clubs and communities on campus and you can walk from one end to another in five minutes,” Tadiwala added. “There’s a huge host of events at Drury. You can go to any of them and meet new people.”

Drury boasts 71 named clubs and organizations on their website, but not all groups are officially recognized. The Mirror learned of at least six different groups that play the table-top role playing game Dungeons and Dragons. Groups at Drury get together for their own personal events such as birthday parties, secret Santa gift exchanges and more.

There is a place for everyone on campus. Music lovers might find community at DUkes. Those who loved speech and debate in high school can continue debating with Drury’s acclaimed Debate Union. Ultimate frisbee keeps students active. Anime lovers can even explore their interests together with the Naka Club.

Almost any interest group can be found on campus, and if not, it is easy to start a new organization.

Despite all the positives that students see in Drury, no school is perfect. Some students claimed to feel betrayed and like they lost their sense of community and openness when news of the recent Title IX case broke. Even so, students find solace by communicating with each other.

“There are a lot of areas where Drury could improve, but it’s doing a great job so far,” Tadiwala said.

Students can be invested in athletics or academic organizations, in or out of Greek life, and still find a strong community wherever they stand. If Drury’s culture was to be summed up, that would be the message: everyone is welcome, and everyone has a place here.

Written by Maclen Johnson and Forest Swisher.