The Review

Issue date: 4/10/07 Section: Editorial

[Click to enlarge]

I only have a few pet peeves with my fellow college students. It's funny, but the idea they were cold-blooded thieves never really crossed my mind. I was more concerned with the vast majority of away messages featuring statements like "out with my hot roomate!"

It absolutely blows my mind how many students spell the word roommate with one "m." I used to sit around thinking about this for hours. I'd reason, "well, either you have a room-ate, which I suppose is hungry Pacman-like living quarters, or a roo-mate, which means you have a friend who is a joey from Down Under...and I'm immensely jealous."

I have been so mistakenly fixated on students' inability to spell one of the most important words in college lingo, I have entirely overlooked the fact that some are more than horrible spellers - they are horrible people.

Well, maybe I shouldn't say horrible people. I am more referring to a horrible person. I am hoping that person is female, but I could be wrong and that brings a whole new level of awkwardness to this issue. Regardless, this is for you, horrible person, and anyone who chooses to practice a lifestyle similar to yours.

Last week, a heinous human being deliberately dug behind an ATM machine at Klondike Kate's to snatch my favorite jacket from what I wrongly perceived as a clever hiding place. As I wandered home in the bitter, chilling cold, braving Arctic temperatures in short sleeves since I no longer had a jacket to keep my poor, frostbitten arms toasty, I began to ponder: How had I not realized students' lack of concern for others before?

I began to ask around, and sure enough, almost every person I talked to has been robbed on or around campus. Many have been victims four or five times: jackets, bags, books, Sun Chips ... and the list goes on.

I realize one may think it is idiotic to leave anything of value lying around, but isn't it sad that we live in a community where that is a concern? You expect to get things stolen in New York City, but shouldn't we feel safe here at school? You also might think I'm stupid for wearing a jacket I love out on a Saturday night. However, the value of a stolen object is insignificant. Everything that belongs to me is valuable because it's mine. Well, now it's someone else's.

I remember when I first came to UD, I laughed at one of the buses that was plastered with information on how to be a good citizen. I thought, "Is that some sort of joke?" But now I understand why YouDee felt the need to spoon-feed morals to supposed young adults. These basic rules should have been laminated on your classroom wall in first grade. Apparently not.

Let's start with stealing. In case you were in the dark about this, stealing is mean and bad and just plain cruel.

Two wrongs don't make a right. I heard a girl at the coat-rack say, "It's not there! Ugh! Then just grab another one!" Well if this is the accepted attitude, then beware because it is now my turn to steal something, and that something just might be yours.

Nobody likes a show-off. I should have seen the writing on the wall back in freshman year. A girl who lived two floors down decided it would be hilarious to steal all of my friend's clothes out of the Dickinson dryer. She then proceeded to sport the clothing around for the rest of the year, fully aware that the rightful owner lived under the same roof. Are you kidding me?

The golden rule: Please and thank you. I was never approached with a "please, may I steal your jacket?" or a "thanks for the free coat!" but I suppose I can at least have the courtesy to say "you're welcome."

There are consequences to your actions. I never participated in Mischief Night because it made me feel bad. You never know if the person's house you egged is an elderly person who lives by himself and has to clean up that mess. But then again people who steal jackets don't recognize personal actions affect others, like me and my naked arms walking home in a blizzard because of someone's selfishness.

Oh, and if you happen to have recently acquired a white cropped jacket with sweater trim and a rip on the inside, let me know. I'd really appreciate it back. No hard feelings.



Meg Lobdell is Enterprise Editor for The Review. Her viewpoints do not necessarily represent those of The Review staff. Please send comments to mlobdell@udel.edu.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools