Staff Columns: Four years later: a look back on my own special collections

Four years ago, I told myself that graduation would be here before I knew it. I should have listened to myself, because now is the time and I’m not sure I’m ready for it.

One thing’s for sure, I’ve collected a number of items through my time here–some of which I’d like to keep, some that I’d love to give back.

First, my parking tickets. Given, I deserved some of them, and I’ll keep those, but the lame ones–you can have those back.

At some point, every student parks in an inappropriate space to ensure punctuality. I’m not talking about those. I’m talking about the tickets that seem to come out of no where. The “I-swear-I-parked-here-yesterday-and-you-didn’t-give-me-a-ticket-then” ticket.

I would give all these lame tickets to people who can’t parallel park. Just because your car is on a white curb doesn’t mean you’ve been fair to your fellow drivers. One car needs one space. Period.

Second, I’d give back some of the confusion. Too bad there’s not enough time in the day to streamline some of the processes and solve some of the problems here at GC&SU. Why is there only one cashier line in the cafeteria? What is that whistle? Why does the Governor’s Mansion need that many visitor parking spaces when no one ever parks in them? Why is graduation outside? Why is the ticket system such a nightmare? Why do we have two bookstores on such a small campus? Why doesn’t Chick-fil-A or Einstein’s take credit cards? Why do I have to pay so many digital art lab fees since I already have to buy a print card?

Maybe some day someone will answer these questions. Unfortunately (or fortunately, however you want to see it) I won’t be here to see them answered.

Next topic. Students: you can keep your apathy–ALL OF YOU. Keep it until you graduate for all I care. We’ve been down here working into the night for 24 weeks creating a newspaper that you pay for with your student fees. You pick them up, you line your litter boxes with them and you throw them away. If you’re actually reading them, there’s no way we would know. Somehow we manage to fill the editorial page thanks to our own columnists and few regular contributors, but those of you who gripe and don’t do anything about it are missing out. Get over yourself and become a part of something that you’ll never have a chance to be a part of again.

I’ve collected a lot of really lame books that I’ve never read, and for that matter, lots of classes I never needed. I know there are plenty that will argue with me on this, but now, even after arriving at the famed “end” when I’m supposed to be “looking back,” I can say I’ve taken some totally useless classes. Top three? Probably Math Modeling, Precalculus and Biology I and II. Someone might find them useful, but even after four years, I haven’t drawn on the knowledge I gained from them.

Okay, out with the anger and on with the sappy love song. One thing I’ll never forget and fight to keep like a good parking space: my friends and colleagues. I’ve learned more from you than any class I’ve taken and I don’t know that I could have done it without you. Thanks for your patience, your criticism, your dedication and your wisdom.

To those of you staying behind: enjoy your time here. Get involved in things that will further your professional experience and do the best work you can do. Good or bad, it will come back to haunt you.

The proverbial torch is finally being passed and I can now go to sleep on Wednesdays knowing that the mistakes that unfortunately slipped through the cracks are no longer my fault.

Sincerely,

Bo Shell
Editor in Chief
The Colonnade

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Apr 29 2005. Filed under Opinion. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry