PUC Haters

Posted on 18. Nov, 2009 by Erika Kim in Column

You hear it all the time.

“Worship/Colloquy credit is so unfair!”

“Caf’ food is terrible!”

“Curfew is so stupid.”

“Why can’t we have co-ed dorms?”

“I HATE PUC!”

There is a group of people on campus I like to refer to as PUC haters.  These are the people who are constantly complaining about the way PUC looks, sounds, smells, feels, and tastes, starting with the Angwin sign to the cafe all the way up to McReynolds.

There are a few reasons why we gripe about things, and not all of them are bad.  At times, it’s a way to relieve stress, sometimes it’s a reference point that allows us to connect to other people, and other times it’s a way to voice our frustrations and bring attention to issues.  To a certain extent, that’s fine.

However, for those who feel strongly and earnestly about their negative opinions and criticisms of PUC, more needs to be done than making fun of and moaning over the way PUC is.  Instead, we should focus on what PUC can become and how we can make that happen.  This is the school we all attend.  If we are still choosing to go here (and by choosing not to transfer, that is what we’re doing), we either need to change our attitudes, or do what we can to help the school evolve.

Getting things to change is hard, but using that as a reason to be apathetic is not acceptable.  Yes, there are issues that need to be addressed.  Yes, some of us here are unhappy with the way things are run, and might be happier under a different system.  However, we can’t sit back and hope for change to happen on its own.

If you want to make a case about caf’ food, make a valid point about how having vegetarian food does not translate to being healthy cuisine, which was the original point of having a vegetarian diet.  Make suggestions that can improve the menu and quality of the food.  If you want to have other privileges, put away your sense of entitlement and act like adults who deserve them.  Be responsible enough not to violate the terms of those privileges, and then fight to get things changed.

Educate yourself on what is actually going on and figure out how to get things changed.  Investigate issues, talk to people, get a group together, and then do something.  Instead of whining, make valid complaints.  If you’re not willing to put in the work to try to get things changed, stop blaming PUC, stop making excuses, and stop whining.

I don’t exempt myself from my own criticism.  In fact, I will be the first to admit that I’m tremendously guilty of this.  If you see me walking around here, nine times out of ten I’m complaining about something wrong on campus.  However, I realize that criticizing caf’ food does not make it any better, and criticizing worship credit does not make the system’s existence any less real.

As obvious as this statement might sound, it is important to remember that having issues with the system is not something that is exclusive to PUC campus.  Every place has its issues, and when we leave PUC, there will be other (and probably much larger) issues that we’ll be faced with.  While this may not be taught in a classroom by a professor, this is all a part of our education.  Learning how to deal with issues here will teach us how to work on the larger ones out there.

You Know What I Don’t Like?: Overly Affectionate Couples in the Caf

Posted on 11. Oct, 2009 by K. A. Ratz in Column

You know what I don’t like? Well, you will soon.

I don’t know about you people, but to me, the caf is one of the most disgusting places in the whole world. And no, I’m not even talking about the food. When I go in to EAT somewhere, the only kinds of people I want to see are the kind that are EATING. Seriously, it’s a caf. It’s not like it’s Andre Lobby. Let’s get real here.
I buy my “food” and go sit down. I want to eat the dang food so that I can get to my next class on time. I want to see my friends so that we can all talk about how much we never get to see each other before we all run in seven-thousand different directions. I do NOT want to see people snuggling or running their fingers through each other’s hair or laughing in that ridiculous, obnoxiously high-pitched laugh at something that their boyfriend said that probably was not even that funny. It’s bad enough that I don’t have a boyfriend. I don’t need you all to rub it in my face.

You know, if you want to hold hands, fine. I just hope that one of you is left handed so that eating doesn’t get complicated. If you have to feed each other, then let go of the other person’s hand for 5 minutes and eat. Don’t eat off the other persons plate/utensils/fingers. Its gross. That’s a great way to pass the flu. Didn’t you learn anything in health class?

Maybe the best way to solve this problem is to break off a little section of the caf for the overly affectionate couples to sit. I don’t think it would bother them to have the other 40 couples being all lovey-dovey sitting near them if ALL THE PEOPLE IN THE CAFETERIA don’t. Maybe there is a purpose for one of those side rooms, after all. Perhaps another solution to this problem would be to eat your dang food and then go to Andre lobby or outside somewhere. Really, if you would stop touching each other and eat, that would only take you like 15 minutes. That way you still have like 30 minutes to go and snuggle and STILL make it to class on time.
The caf is a place for food. Not a place for you to get your hours worth of affection with your significant other. Food: YES. Touching: NO. Really.

Getting back to the Basics: Body Language

Posted on 11. Oct, 2009 by Jen Cotto in Column

So, you think you got all the right signs? You met him at speed dating at the caf, he smiled a lot, so did you, he listened to what you had to say through the other couple hundred people that were there, he said your name at the end of the two minute date. And then, there you are, walking towards the library; you recognize him, and just as you pass him by and  prepare to make eye contact and say hello—he doesn’t even notice you! At this point you are seriously confused… I mean, he gave all the right signals, right? Or did he…

Trust me; you are not the only one that is confused. Believe it or not, there is more to these signs than you think. Let’s get down to the basics and with body language. Researchers say that about 55% of communication is conveyed through body language. Even if you are trying your very best not to show you like him, or her—we can read it! Think about it: when you are with your boys, and that one girl walks in, everything changes.

So, how do you know you are reading the signs correctly? Well, throw all of your previous theories out the window and read up:

Dr. Ross Buck, a professor of communication sciences and psychology at the University of Connecticut, gives us some basic pointers to pay attention to:

First Impressions, a hand shake: Palm to palm contact expresses an intention of honesty and openness and says that your interaction will be sincere and non-threatening.

The window to the soul: With your eyes you can literally express everything, from sexual interest, to being happy, in pain or simply being annoyed.

Posture: You can see signs of dominance or submissiveness through a person’s posture. Sitting there slumped is going to give a message of insecurity, shame or guilt.

She’s playing with her hair: Believe it or not, this is true! When a girl is playing with her hair, she is totally flirting. Just be careful with this one, if it’s a windy day, she really might be just getting her hair out of her eyes.

So, how can you use this information to send the right message to that boy or girl? First of all, you should become more aware of what you do and how you do it. Pay attention to how you interact with your friends and people you meet.