He Said:
I confuse one of my English professors for a paramedic.
Each Monday he shuffles into the Shanks classroom toting a paper bag that might as well be a cooler full of vital organs.
He overturns the bag on a table, forming a delicious puddle of treats: chips, pretzels, peanut butter cups and other chocolates.
It’s 5:30 p.m., and he seems to understand the next two-and-a-half hours are rather torturous. The food is an encouragement for our patience — possibly more so a plea for us to stay upright with open eyes. It’s really how we survive.
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One of the best stories here in a long time! As someone who grew up in New Jersey, where chivalry is well documented as having died in the 17th century, I distinctly recall arriving here in 1999 for my first semester and being pleasantly surprised by how kind the total strangers on this campus can be. How about those old narrow doors on the McBryde entrances? What a pain! But I doubt they ever swung shut during class change; however, as everyone was always courteous enough to hand it off to the next frightened freshman. Cheers to those who have kept up that generosity for the ten years since I moved here!
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I enjoyed reading this. Many of us who are only wishing we were still in school are quick to note the decline of politeness, common sense or (insert other positive quality here) in recent years, but I do think VT manages to cling to a pretty positive and supportive overall campus environment. I don't think that can be said about all college environments, especially ones of this size. It's nice to see some dialogue that recognizes and promotes positive behavior "just because." It's easy to do something positive as a means to achieve some sort of goal, but true character is measured not by how you treat people in positions of power (your boss, professor, etc.), but how you treat those who have no power over you (janitor, fellow students, etc.).
Anyway, kudos to the CT for adding some substance to a light Friday read.
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