The Little Things...

"Bells, bells, bells--To the moaning and the groaning of the bells."

To those of you who don't know what this quote is about, you're probably at the right school, but if you do recognize this as the writing of Edgar Allen Poe, I'll forgive you. If you have ever read "The Bells," you know the torment caused by the ringing of the insidious bells. If you have ever lived in one of the Quads on the Alden side of Riley Hall, then I'm sure you can relate to this torment. There is no pain worse than being woken up every hour on the hour, by the insidious bells while trying to get some well-earned weekend sleep.

Don't get me wrong, I know many people who would miss class without even knowing it if they didn't have the hourly chime to tell them that is was too late to make it and they might as well not even go. I myself relied on them my freshman year to get to class on time as well as to figure out when the professor was officially late and we could therefore leave. But classes present another problem.

I'm sure you notice that, at certain times, the bells don't just chime, they play a partially recognizable tune. This is all well and good, if you are just wandering campus. The trouble arises when you are sitting in class, waiting for the test to be handed out, scared out of your mind that you may fail another one. Then, cutting the tension that lies heavy in the air, you hear the tune of "The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow"!!! What kind of inspiration and self-esteem does that bestow? If they want to try to help the students out with some background music to life, why not play "Eye of the Tiger"? Students undergo enough suffering in their classes; I see no need to subject them to the distant echoes of show tunes, do you?

I have asked around, and can find no one who can or is willing to tell me who is in control of the bells. Whoever this mysterious phantom is, s/he should get on board with the student empowerment movement and abdicate. Surrender to the will of the masses, and let the students choose what they are forced to listen to. I understand that there is no way to make everyone happy, and there will always be people who complain, but that is true with everything. I have an odd feeling that almost anything would go over better than Broadway themes.

This issue may not seem important…it very well may not be important, but that is beside the point. The college experience is a diverse and mind numbing collage of people and events. This is just one of the little things that make the experience all that more un-enjoyable/enjoyable for those going through it. So check your coat with Rod Sterling at the door, sit back, relax, and consider The Little Things…

Questions/ Comments/ Suggestions/ Cold Hearted Verbal Abuse? the_eye_of_odin@hotmail.com