Although the metal monstrosity destined for vandalism that darkens the otherwise pleasant-looking entrance to Mallinckrodt has driven me to many verbal tirades condemning this aesthetic insult, I’ve decided to keep such thoughts to myself so as not to shock and perhaps frighten the Student Life readership. I think I can safely say that the entire WU community agrees that the bunny is, in fact, the ugliest thing to grace this campus since Eliot Hall. I’ve said my piece-now I can rest.
Rather than dwell on problems that can’t be helped (unless there is a student somewhere with a blowtorch, a sledgehammer and a wish for expulsion), I’ll now discuss another, more immediate matter-W.I.L.D. The semiannual campus-wide hoedown of hedonism is nearly upon us, complete with not the usual one, but a whopping two bands some people have heard of. Perhaps they’ll spend their time on stage performing as opposed to scolding the crowd for crowding itself. Hopefully Crazytown will have something more to offer than gratuitous tattoo display, and Eve 6 will simply have something to offer.
Rumor has it (as does fact) that this year it won’t be necessary for fights to break out on Monday in the Audio-Visual library over who gets to watch the chemistry videos first because W.I.L.D. is to be held on Saturday, excluding it as an excuse to skip class. Reactions to this change of date have been varied. Those who are especially academically driven and/or prone to guilt are grateful for the change, whereas people with minimal Friday classes are aggravated by the delay. Professors are pleased that students will have no real reason to miss class-especially beneficial in small discussion classes. It is understandable that professors might take offense if half the class fails to appear. I’m sure they know not to take it personally, but I’d imagine it would be difficult nonetheless to compete with the irresistible allure of kegs and giant floaty toys which have not only seized in their clutches the absent sixty percent of the class, but have the die-hard survivors gazing longingly out the window. It’s hard enough to engage students’ attention on warm spring days. Tack on popular bands and free food, and the professors don’t stand a chance.
Another legitimate reason for the change is maintenance of relations with the Clayton/University City community. If I were an elderly woman tending my daffodils in a house off of Millbrook, I would be chagrined and offended to have my atmosphere invaded by the tinny echoing of amplified guitar music. To elderly women, the modern rock music most college students swear by would be classified as “noise” rather than “music.” After all, Eve 6 is no Tom Jones. I would be equally chagrined if I were a mother living in the area trying to put my two-year-old to sleep, his daily Ritalin dosage waning and his mother’s nerves doing the same. Our neighbors, I’m sure, consider us a passel of punks as it is. College students are not a particularly reputable species, especially in the eyes of the peace-loving Claytonians. Their plight is understandable, as it is much easier for us to hold our boisterous festivities during waking, daylight hours than it is for everyone else in the neighborhood to move. Mutual respect within a community is important, and we must remember that mothers and little old ladies have rights, too.
Although skipping class and making noise are not crimes, we must remember that it hurts our professors when they think we don’t care about what they have to say. Purposeful disturbance also doesn’t help our fragile relations with the community when compromise can easily be reached. Holding W.I.L.D. on Saturday is a compromise, and for the sake of others, we should keep our complaints to a minimum.