Observing people. They're unpredictable, mostly intelligent (or so we like to hope), and utterly fascinating. Observing buildings and objects, which are made by people, becoming as unpredictable and strangely fascinating. Observing all the other things that could possible happen on a University campus.

16 December 2008

Walking in a Winter Wonder-accident-pron-Land

To ensure safety of all humans on campus, the University has offered a page of tips. Directly quoted from the web page. May I say, common sense anyone?

Be Safe

  • Plan extra time on your schedule to prevent being in a rush. Most accidents occur due to inattention or being in a hurry.
  • Remove snows from shoes before entering any building.
  • Always use a handrail when climbing up and down stairs.
  • Always use handrail when getting in and out of buildings, vehicles or public transportation.
  • Wear footwear with traction, consider Yax Trax or something similar.

Be Smart

  • Walk at a slower pace.
  • Stay on designated walkways.
  • Watch and avoid slippery surfaces.

Be Seen

  • Wait for vehicles to make a complete stop before crossing the road.
  • Wear visible clothing especially at night or during heavy snow.

If you fall relax and try to fall as limply as possible. Avoid using your arms to stop your fall. (Does anyone else see an image of a rag doll? Seriously, the first thing I think when I slip is "oh crap!" not "oh, I should relax, just like in the bath...")

Driving a Vehicle

  • Avoid driving with snow "peep holes".
  • Make the time to completely clear the snow and ice off your vehicle. Start from the roof, all windows, hood, trunk, turn signals, head and taillights, mirrors and fenders.
  • Leave sufficient distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you to allow manueverability and avoid possible collision. Give enough space so you can stop sooner
  • Slow down. Roads may be slippery due to black ice.
  • Avoid making abrupt lane changes.
  • Avoid any distractions when driving such as using your cellphone.
According to the Federal Highway Administration's national statistics, an average of 232 pedestrians are injured each day while a pedestrian is killed or injured every 7 minutes.

Umm, thanks. I'll do my best.

10 November 2008

The "Bells" - Part 2

Today, the "bells" were ringing at nine-thirty, as a song. Now, I've heard that the school down south plays church hymns with their real, legit, you can actually see and touch, bells. Is this in attempts to be "as cool"? The song that was playing was a familiar tune, though I couldn't tell you what it was. Laughing to myself at the attempt of music, suddenly the song stopped abruptly, right in the middle. Maybe someone was just too annoyed and threw something at the speaker.

01 October 2008

Enthusiastic Professors

Today in class, a professor was describing the Greek language. With her reading glasses in hand, she waved her arm...and you can guess what happened. The spectacles flew across the room, landing in two pieces. The class was sympathetic, but she just laughed, and walked back to the table and picked up new pair she had picked up the night before.

23 September 2008

Random Creativity

This particular display of artwork bears no signature, no explanation, no hint of purpose. It just appeared one day, and has stayed there for over a week. Slowly, the weather has modified it, and now the middle hangs low to the ground. Kudos to whoever was daring enough to make the attempt. Again, I'm not aware of the point of the display...but that's art right? To boggle one's mind, bring you out of the box, and make you wonder why someone would sew random shirts together and hang them from a trellis....

Bathrooms - Remodeling

Many of the bathrooms on campus resemble ancient dungeons. Slowly, the management has seen fit to make-over the lair-like toilet rooms. One particular remodel merited the switch of male/female rooms. To make sure no one walks into the wrong room by habit, they posted handy signs that really make one notice....and wonder. (Click to enlarge for effect)

04 September 2008

Smoke

At a University you would expect those who inhabit the campus to be people who use their brains. Aka - rational and intelligent. Yet, there are cigarette receptacles at nearly every entry to a building (though I vaguely remember the music building steps being devoid of such containers. hint?). Men and women alike walk around with their fiery lollipops. The smell is atrocious. The thought that they can't possibly be aware of the damage they are inflicting upon their bodies, other wise they wouldn't get 10 feet near a light of a cigarette. I have heard people say that smoking is a stress reliever. That need I can understand. Perhaps we should sponsor a daily concert by those from the music building. Music that is fun, yet relaxing. Get people's minds off their immense load of schoolwork. Maybe these kids missed the day in health class that discussed the effects of smoking to ones body. Maybe they don't ever watch TV or listen to the radio to hear the advertisements against the bad habit of smoking. Maybe these are the people who have poor peripheral vision and can't see the WARNING signs at the bottom of magazine ads for cigarettes. Maybe these people have short term memory loss....

28 August 2008

A Table for Choir

On a more personal note, there once was something called the "Choir Lunch Table." Those who were involved in the Concert Choir at the Institute of Religion are familiar with this term. This phenomenon was created before my time, so here I give only a personal account, not a complete history. (Those who are more familiar with the pre-2006 events are welcome to add) Rehearsals were held each day at 10:45am. Those who were able then flocked to the Deli to grab cheap, yet delicious lunch items. A round table was chosen, and chairs were smashed together to fit each and every soul. You would quickly get to know those who were unfamiliar simply by being nearly smashed legs and arms together as you ate. Many times a greater number than room allowed would come, and then formed what we dubbed "orbiters." There was always room for one more at the Choir Lunch Table.

Sometimes, one choirman would find a table before the rest arrived. Other students at the Institute would ask to sit at the table with the choirman, and of course be welcome. Within five minutes, the poor student's eyes would widen when 8 or more people would join them at the table, all chatting and laughing. One was never lonely with a choir group!

Sadly, during the past year the lunch table diminished in popularity. The size of the choir shrank, some graduate and moved on, or were simply occupied elsewhere. On occasion the table was resurrected to it's full glory.

This year, the rehearsal time has moved to the late afternoon, and the tables now sit bare and lonely during lunch. The mixes of uneaten food, the explosion of laughter, the tall stacks of garbage that would sit in the middle of the table, and the instant, yet increasing and deep bonds of friendship around the choir table will be greatly missed. The memory lives on in the hearts of those who were once members of the infamous Choir Lunch Table.

27 July 2008

Art Building

The art building. A place that supposedly harbors the creative students of campus. You'd think the creative minds would require a place more suited to enhancing the vibes of creation. Or maybe this is a foreshadowing of the type of life an artist will live. Dark, dank and forlorn...





















Grammar isn't their best subject. Or maybe it's a style to be "different"....










This is on an elevator down button. Seems to be the typical mindset of artists...

22 July 2008

Bathrooms - Unexpected


Just in case you're up on the roof and can't make it down the stairs to reach one...

20 July 2008

Sign

If anything gets in your way, you are forbidden to ride it. You got it? None of this.

17 June 2008

Dust

It's everywhere. It's not something you can simply pick up and throw in the trash. A task that seems mundane but it most effective when dealing with dust, is vacuuming. Warning in advance though, if you haven't vacuumed for an extended period of time...the office in the Film Studies department is one such room that should come with a warning sign. The office looks fairly clean, with it's industrial blue carpet. As I began to vacuum the office, small puffs of dust came from the floor, proving that the room was not as clean as it looked. So much dust had accumulated, that each puff of dust was enough to reach my nose from the floor. Note to all those with carpet: Vacuum often, even when it doesn't look dirty. Unless you like sneezing, then you'll want to collect all the dust you can get! Don't worry, it's not hard to find and it doesn't take long. Where does dust come from anyway? It's not just dirt...what is it?

13 June 2008

"We're Saving Money"

Two offices in the Film Studies are connected to the same circuit. Between the two rooms are the following units requiring electricity: Three computers, a printer, a copier, a fax machine, lights on the ceiling, a refrigerator and a microwave. So many appliances to one circuit equals: Run the microwave and the copier at the same time, you lose all power.

27 May 2008

Bathrooms - The Student Union

If you travel to the basement, you will discover a small room at the back. Here are the fixtures of complete modernism. How can a sink, soap and drying be improved? By stuffing them all into one fixture. When you insert your hands into the hole in the wall, a portion of soap is distributed to your palms. Immediately after, water comes out. When the water shuts off, a dryer fires up. Convenient? Sure. And space saving, as well as decreasing waste of paper towels. But personal experience is as follows:
Shock, then glee at a new toy. Reading of instructions that are posted above each "sink". Inserting of hands into hole. Finding soap on hands, trying to rub it in, but water starts immediately washing the soap from hands before it does any good. The water came out quite forcefully, as to leave water all over my front. Removal of hands from near scalding water. Irritation at the continuing hot water, long after soap was removed. Finally, water shut off, and dryer started. Hot air dried hands quickly. Removal of hands and insertion of shirt to dry off. Utter amazement at such an absurd contraption, yet satisfaction at successfully navigating the new way to wash your hands.

Bathrooms

Here begins a new series of in depth description of the campus restrooms. I must clarify that this observation is from the female point of view exclusively.

First of all, an overall observation of the bathrooms on campus. Each building is unique, and in turn have inspired unique rooms with toilets. It also depends on where in the building you choose to enter.

29 April 2008

The "Bells"

The sounds of bells, ring in the hour. Look up and around, yet there is no bell tower to be found. As you approach the student union building, the sound will grow louder. Look up once again, and lo and behold, the source of the sound is a loud-speaker on the wall. You will stand in awe of the ridiculously nonsensical point of ringing bells that exist elsewhere. Admittedly the sound is lovely and the intention is honest. But really. Come now. A speaker?

18 April 2008

Garbage Moderator

The garbage collector dresses in a white jumpsuit, hat, face-mask, and giant rubber gloves. He pulled up to the first garbage can outside the student center, and pulled it out. It was only 1/4 full, but he tossed in the back of his small car/cart, and inserted a new bag. 15 yards away sat the next can full of trash. He got back in the car, and drove to it. Pausing at a lunch table, he picked at something stuck in the wood with his big rubber gloves. It didn't budge, he flicked it, then left it alone. Again, the bag was only 1/4 full of trash, but he threw it in the back with the other nearly empty black bags. He replaced it with a new one, put the holding ring over the top, and set the lid on, lopsided.

Language and Communications

I am aware that it has been said before that the organizational skills of the architect were significantly impaired. Today an adventure confirmed this accusation. Who in their right mind would make the 3rd floor of a building near unaccessible? It's almost a test of patience and endurance. "You may enter the realm of English and Writing, under the condition you are able to find the single elevator, or the two corner staircases that reach us."

Thankfully, my department is on the first floor. Much kinder. "Just turn left, but don't blink or you'll miss it" rather than an MIA threat. Yes, I will have to venture to the elusive 3rd floor on occasion, but that is only a minor component. This building is two words. A puzzle. Only for smart people. In other words, good luck. May the force of direction be with you.

The Library

What exactly is the point of a library? You would think this is an insane proposition. You would probably say: "To hold books." But per my adventures this afternoon, my observations told me a whole new story.

First use: A construction site. A few weeks ago a friend of mine observed that the University should have a new mascot. The crane. The only way inside through the west doors. My entire experience here has consisted of half a library. Thankfully, it appears that work is being completed, but some parts of the library are uninhabitable due to the constant banging.

Second use: A fashion show. Oh wait. That goes for all of campus. Here comes Spring and the new summer fashions...all I have to say is, watch out.

Third use: Nap-time. Ten feet into the library and guaranteed you will find a dosing student. Whether it be a book they rest on, or a chair. Sometimes there are 3 or 4 sleeping people within eye-sight.

Fourth use: An exercise routine. The place is huge. Hundreds of shelves hold thousands of books. Forget your run of the mill Dewey Decimal system. This place adds a whole new level of organization! The government papers have an entire section to themselves (good riddance I say, keep the boring stuff out of the way.) Particularly, I was searching for books on Latin and Greek today. Somehow, even though I used the Quick Search, I ended up in the religion section. There were books in other languages, but that wasn't helpful. The language books are located a floor above and on the other side. I found the Greek books there looked around, then headed to where I was told books in Latin were. I ended up back in the religion section. Lugging my backpack back the other way, I found the Latin books 3 shelves away from the Greek. 4 trips us and down the stairs, and about 4 trips back and forth across the floors. With a backpack, who needs a treadmill and weights?


You never know what else a library will do for you. A place to check email, play online games, read Roald Dahl...or simply get lost and never return to civilization. Check out your local library and I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised!