- The Record Archives
- Volume CXVII, No. XII - September 2, 2004 - opinion
You know you're back at CSB/SJU when...
Staff columnist
Water fountains are spraying. Students are stumbling to 8 a.m. classes. Bells are ringing -- constantly. Must be the start of another school year at CSB/SJU.
Summer break can be exciting, relaxing, thrilling, boring, fun-filled, work-laden, exotic. But once fall comes, or in our case, the middle of August, it's time to head back to school. There are certain inevitabilities that accompany a return to CSB/SJU. Signs that let you know you're back.
You know you're back at CSB/SJU when flip-flops become the only type of shoe you wear. Classes, the Reef, parties, floor meetings, work meetings, on-campus jobs – even the shower – flip-flops are the way to go.
You know you're back at CSB/SJU when free pizza accompanies every meeting you go to. Free food becomes the universal incentive for doing anything.
You know you're back at CSB/SJU when e-mailing and Instant Messaging become your primary modes of communication. You think the phone in your room works, but you're not sure.
You know you're back when you hear the questions, "How was your summer?" "What classes are you taking?" and "Where are you living?" approximately 85 times a day.
You know you're back when classes are on a six-day cycle, and naps are on a seven-day cycle. As in seven days a week.
You know you're back when beating Bethel in any possible competition comes as naturally to you as breathing. Football, soccer, water polo, thumb wars – it doesn't matter.
You know you're back when your number one objective in picking classes is avoiding 8 o'clocks. Especially at the opposite campus.
You know you're back when you speak in acronyms. The HCC, BAC, HAB, SBH, etc. You don't even know what half of these mean.
You know you're back when by the time you return from the Reef you need to use the bathroom.
You know you're back when you're considering becoming a vegetarian just so you don't have to wait so long in line at barbecues. Based on the number of veggie burgers available, 35 percent of students refrain from eating meat.
You know you're back when you're leery of any statistic that claims a certain percentage of students refrain from various weekend activities.
You know you're back when there are two bars within walking distance. You recognize each individually for its distinct qualities. You even identify your personality with one – "I'm a Sal's guy."
You know you're back when dodgeball has become an official intramural. And Four Square courts are proliferating across campus. You're pretty into both sports.
You know you're back when you coordinate your social life around the Link schedule. The 4:06 bus, 4:45, 5:15 – what's it going to be? Careful, or you'll end up on an HCC-bound bus.
You know you're back when you suddenly despise anyone whose first name is Jason or whose last name is Laker.
Lastly, you know you're back when your computer is connected to a campus-wide network that never actually works. Hearing the phrase, "The Internet's working," sends you rushing to a computer.
Isn't it great to be back?