Avoiding the mob

It seemed as if they were invading the campus. Thousands of the miniature creatures milled about the senior lawn. Their small bodies were so numerous that the tops of their furry heads were all I could see. They were everywhere. They were Freshmen.

My group of friends has always stayed on the opposite side of the campus from the quad/“Senior Lawn.” Our spot was a large path under an overhang (valuable real estate because of rain protection). Unfortunately, that’s all our area was, as it lacked all furnishings. But we finally planned to give up our area and claim our rightful spot on the lawn. That was, until we saw the mass of tangled bodies that was once the most desirable area on campus.

Was it worth it to face the overpopulated quad to earn the coveted table? No. Was the senior lawn as desirable a plot of real estate as our covered territory? No. So why not get the best of both?

On Friday morning we chose the highest quality table on the lawn and, after removing several of the aforementioned miniature creatures, carried our enviable piece of metal and rubber (weighing in excess of 300 lbs.) across campus to our coveted spot.

It seems that we have more friends than ever are hanging out in our spot, now that it is properly furnished. But how can you blame them? There, we are protected from the rain. We are far, far away from the invading newcomers scheduled to graduate in 2011. And now, our lunch quality has elevated as we have removed the grit of ground sand from our sandwiches. I think we might have the greatest set up South Pasadena has EVER seen. And this is only after the first two days of school. Imagine what next week will bring.

[Update]:  On Tuesday, several sophomore girls stole our table before the start of lunch.  We made sure they understood that the table was rightfully ours, and at the end of the day, returned it to its legitimate home.  Somehow the table has inexplicably become chained to a concrete pillar.  Make no mistake, it will not move again.

-- Nick Giulioni

Comments

[Missy Finstead]

I knew from reading the first sentence of "Avoiding the Mob" which blogger had written it. Nick's writing style allows his personality to shine through. On top of that, I could clearly visualize the mob of fuzzy headed creatures and the whole scene. Well done.

[Mark Haines]

I love it...the table is now chained in its rightful place! Oh, those silly freshmen!

[Shay]

While I applaud that you are asserting yourself as a senior and stepping up to get those things that are the rare privileges of the eldest students on campus, moving the table and locking it down is not really your right, nor may it be safe and/or legal.
School furniture like benches, tables, etc... is often placed where it is for safety reasons. Clear access to exits, compliance with the ADA, etc... are all things that staff must consider when placing any furniture on campus. Maybe moving the table will have no repercussions and the staff couldn't care less. Or maybe you've just created a hazard by moving the table onto a path and locking it down so that it can't be moved during an emergency situation. Maybe you've made it difficult for those with disabilities, whether permanent or temporary, to get from one place to another.
I don't know what your school looks like or how the table fits into the whole schematic of the school. What I do know is that you should have sought permission to move it from the powers that be and that locking it down was probably not an option even if you had been given the authority to move it.
Just because you're a senior doesn't mean that you truly understand the consequences of your actions. Privilege does not trump safety and law.

[D.B. Winkle]

There are certain rights of passage and dues that must be paid, as well as lessons learned. Society teaches us that although we scream equality from the rooftops, that true equality simply does not exist. A certain hierarchy is necessary for society to function properly. If all was equal and all playing fields were level it would get pretty boring. If not for losers, we'd have no winners. If not for the poor, what scale would we use to gauge rich? If not bad how would we know good?, and so on and so on.

I not only applaud the move to chain the table in its rightful place, I encourage it!!
To those, like some bloggers that have responded, that disagree I say lighten up and stop holding the rest of accountable for what must have been a childhood spent as a bottom feeder. This is no different than if you were to re-arrange the office at a job you just started yesterday. You would no sooner do that and get away with it, so why should a freshman walk in and start making changes to a situation they know nothing about?

To those freshman involved, nice try. I do have a certain affection for your spirit and your ability to "roll the dice" and take a chance. A move like this either takes guts or ignorance, and whatever the case may be I'm sure that one of life's little lessons has either already hit you over the head, or is certainly short coming. Either way kids will be kids, and I say let them be---this is all in the name of fun...............and Shay-----it sounds like perhaps you yourself could use some------take the twist out and lighten up.

[Nick Giulioni]

Shay-

I actually did get permission from the security guard before we moved the table in the first place, and he actually approved it. When we told him we were going to chain it, he said that we just needed to have a key if for some reason it needed to come off. I don't break school rules; I'm a good kid.

Nick