Saturday, October 8, 2005, I sit in the apartment of a friend, watching the Ohio State football team play Penn State. Anyone who knows Ohio State knows that football is the life of every Ohio State student.... but me.
If Rolo hadn't been in town, I probably would have been watching 24 on Netflix. As the end of the 4th quarter rolled around, and Ohio State was losing, a feeling of complete worry and sadness overcame me... not because we were losing, but because of the riots that I knew were sure to follow.
Sure enough, when Rolo and I got back to my apartment, it was complete chaos. I felt like I was in the middle of the movie Animal House. The dumpster behind my apartment was on fire (that picture was taken from my bedroom window), and the drunken idiots in my apartment complex decided to throw everything that they could find that would make a loud noise off of the balconies and into the courtyard. By the morning, the courtyard was a sheet of broken glass, cans, broken trashcans, fans, a keg, plastic cups, and even a muffin cookie sheet.
Now, I knew that this school was obsessed with football and partying, but somehow I had managed to escape its wrath until this weekend. The sad part is, that everyone in my apartment complex that wasn't participating in the throwing of random objects, still thought it was all so amusing and entertaining, but all I could think about was how idiotic, immature, and pointless it all was. It's sad because this incident was the most typical example of the mentality of everyone I meet here.
How is it possible that at a school of 50,000 people, I haven't met one person that would have seen the situation the same way that I did?
6 comments:
While your apartment is really close to campus, which is great, the unfortunate reality is that it is right in the middle of the roughest part of campus living, which is made up of mostly simple undergrads that are mainly there to party. You're an exception in that area, I'm sorry to say.
Of the 50,000 students here, I promise you it's always the same few hundred to make a mess of things. I've seen it many times before and it'll never change. The other 49,500 students have the same concerns as you and only a portion of those 49,500 live near you.
And while it's true this only happens when OSU loses big games (which is rare), it's not the football game or over-enthusiasm for OSU that sparks this crap; it's that notorious and globally despised mix of beer, men, and lack of cognitive skills.
I think that the OSU administration puts something in the water down there in Columbus. Every person that I have met that either currently attends or had attended the University is obsessed w/ OSU football. Some friends of mine didn't even know what a football was prior to going down and now their lives revolve around it..
Carla, stay strong. Nan is right- it is probably the same group of idiotic jugheads who cause these riots, but at least the country knows just how passionate OSU is about football. So, in a way, they are simply showing the country their love (although not unconditional love, given that they're throwing everything but the kitchen sink out the windows- muffin sheets though!)and compassion. Awww..
If you want to meet some fine intellectuals who have a passion for sports, go meet a tennis player. I hear they are incredibly witty and easy on the eyes. Speaking of cute, witty tennis players, Guillaume comes home tomorrow!
-n
I bet that firey dumpster made a really good impression on Rolo. I bet he's counting the seconds until he can return to such a "warm" environment. haha. warm.
Anyway, yeah, that really blows, Carla. I eympathize not so much with your football-obsessed surroundings, but with the frustration of living among stupids. Sometimes in our neighborhood I want to go up to people's faces and just scream "WHY???" when I seem them hanging out in their front yard that is literally full of garbage or hitting their kids or otherwise living life in a way that is generally unhealthy, dangerous, and disrespectful--to themselves and others.
You've just got to look harder for the ones who don't light things on fire or throw away bakeware. Nan says there are 49,500 of them, so it shouldn't be hard to find one. Just stay away from the frats...
The Iowa State campus once closed for a few days because of riots triggered by...nothing, just heavy drinking all over following A PARADE. It happens everywhere, and it's a shame. What's even worse, for me at least, is that a good chunk of these kids will grow up to smile, enjoy, and defend their own children when they repeat the cycle.
Nan, Dawn, Nati and JB are right: sad as it is to see these things, you can find comfort knowing that the large majority stays out of this.
Look at the bright side, now you have a nice topic to explore for your next deviant behavior class!!
IT WAS ABOUT TIME, ROLO!!!
Welcome!!!
dadGUILLE, the ThreadKiller
Post a Comment