An Airing of a Few Grievances
Over It
Unsurprisingly, people are unhappy with the school and how it’s being run. I know, shocking that people are complaining about every little, last thing as if they’re entitled to have a perfectly smooth experience in every aspect and stage of their lives. However, the point of this post is not to air my distaste for whiny little bitches (which is strong and a subject I never tire of). The point is to reflect on a few complaints and ponder some simple solutions while awaiting action from the administration.
The consensus seems to be that no one is happy with how our tuition dollars are being spent. I suppose there’s weight to the argument that it’s our money, we should have a say in where it goes, but c’mon kids. Let’s get real. You will have very little control over where your money goes for the rest of your life. Everyone knows half your paycheck goes to various government agencies, plans, programs, etc. Pretty soon, the rest is gone as well. For example, the City of Boston has sucked up almost, every last bit of disposable income I managed to scrape together because apparently it’s now cool to ticket at 3a.m. The rest has gone towards new tires- thanks Comm. Ave. Anyway, most of your money will go towards things other than a Wii…for the rest of your life.
Regardless, let’s consider what people are pissed about.
This first issue I can’t really relate to. People are pissed about the microwaves in the cafeteria. Frankly, the only things I use the cafeteria for are their free supply of artificial sweeteners and skim milk for my coffee, and the occasional cookie (if they’re having a good day- it’s a crapshoot with those. Thank god they started wrapping them in saran so I can evaluate the consistency before purchase. Why isn’t anyone else grateful for that?) I guess the microwaves aren’t working, or there aren’t enough? I’ll admit that sucks. How does the other half make their popcorn lunch on a daily basis?
Here’s the simple solution. Most people have friends. Most people have friends who are a part of some organization or another. Many organizations have offices with microwaves. Do some research, make nice, do a little bartering and use other people’s microwaves. This way the only law students really using them are the 1Ls, but their lives are supposed to suck. If the microwave line is the problem do what I did 1L year- go to the cafeteria to use the microwave in times other than between noon and one. Common F’ing Sense, people.
A corollary issue is the price of the food in the cafeteria. I’m not even going to dignify this with more than few sentences. Get over it. Bring your own lunch. Make do. Jesus, this is law school, not a freaking spa. And complement your sacrifice with their free sweeteners, milk, cholula, etc. Have you people no ingenuity? Have you never had a budget before? Do it up Tim Gunn style and then shut the hell up.
Back to the microwaves, the grapevine informed me that there was some griping over dropping some cash on a social event, rather than on a microwave. This inspired at least one spirited 2L to exercise her free speech, douche-i-ly enough, during Con Law II. Normally, I would say spend the money on the event rather than the microwave, as I subscribe to the fiscal philosophy of food last, alcohol and clothes first. However, in this case, I’m going to side with the 2L. Spending even one dollar on a BU Law-BC Law speed dating mixer is about the most insulting waste of money ever.
Now I don’t fault BC in this at all. I believe this is probably not happening, and this is all BU’s idea. Apparently BU has got its panties all in a twist because we don’t play well with others. Their thin skins are hurt that after that bean-town-pot-basketball-thing we only talked amongst ourselves. Does that make BC the mean girls of the Boston law school scene? I really really hope so. Anyway, their solution is to propose yet another mixer, because the first one so surpassed their wildest expectations. To make it even better, they wanted it to be speed dating!
I’m sorry, no. BU- are you all so socially inept that you cannot hook up with one another at an event such as the bean-town-pot-baksetball-thing? Do you really have to go outside of your school for awkward, unsatisfying one-night stands? I mean, what is with that? Think about it. If I’m in an “I just can’t deal with the emotional immaturity of my classmates but I still feel like doing something totally reckless and dumb” mood, I’m certainly not going to satisfy that by seeking out more law students. And screw you BU. We here at BC do not need to resort to speed dating. Put us in a skirt, or collared shirt as the gender may be, and give us a drink, and we’re good to go. We’re sorry for your dry spell predicament, but don’t even think about dragging us down with you.
Moving on.
There are mice in the school. Guess what?! There are mice everywhere. Pretty much everywhere I’ve lived since my parents’ house has had some sort of rodent issue. Granted, I’ve been pretty damn poor, since my parents’ house. Granted, rodents are pretty gross. I mean it’s not ideal that my roommates and I keep a dustbuster in our living room to clean up mice droppings. It’s also not ideal that we’re going on our THIRD exterminator appointment, and yet those little bastards keep coming back. That’s the thing here, guys. Mice are resilient. And they’re cold. And they just keep coming back.
Want to know why they keep coming back? Because we are messy. We leave food and crumbs around. They are cold and hungry. It’s not that complicated. Also, they come back because in older buildings they find ways in. The end.
As for avoiding them, try this revolutionary suggestion on for size….try cleaning up after yourself and throwing stuff away. If that doesn’t work, you can do what my roommate did earlier this year- trap them in cardboard boxes and then set them free outside (this takes a lot of time and vigilance however. I don’t recommend it unless you are also an insomniac who fixates). The traps don’t work. Our furry friends ate all the peanut butter off the traps and got off scott free. Pretty impressive, no? I think the sticky traps have a better track record. Though, then you have to put them in a plastic bag and smash their heads in with hammers. Not for the squeamish.
Personally, my favorite way of dealing with rodents was a technique developed in the year between college and law school. I lived on the first floor of a mad old building in the Lower East Side. We had a luxurious cement backyard, overridden with rats. I’m talking small dog-sized rats. So first of all kids, it could be worse. But anyway, that was the year of bb gun v. rat. It was awesome. I’m not sure the administration would smile upon law students carrying while at school, but if you can somehow swing it, do it.
I’m sure there are gazillion more complaints floating around out there. I’d be more than happy to weigh in on either why your complaint is dumb or how to alleviate the situation. After reading this, I’m sure you all will be dying for more of my opinions…I’ve certainly got the time to think of obnoxious and maybe even somewhat amusing things to say in response.
Reader Comments (22)
Hoping this is not going to be a repeat performance for eagleionline.
I would like air a grievance: This post is terrible.
Haaaa nice. To be fair there was a dead mouse found in the candy machine by the yellowroom though.
As to the mice, it isn't wholly the fault of students leaving trash around or crumbs. Take a look at the trash cans, specifically in the library in the mornings. They are never emptied the night before. On a Wednesday, I can still see the remains of my lunch from the day before in the trash can! If the school really cares about the rodent issue, then they should empty the trash cans on a more regular basis.
I, for one, welcome our new mice overlords
The irony that a column about bitching is bitching about people bitching, is not lost on me.
This is almost as offensive and dangerously stupid as the infamous Mohammad cartoons.
I'd have to disagree that eating lunch before noon or after one is common sense, especially if that's when your break from classes is.
Perhaps people should heat their food spoonful by spoonful with a lighter. That'd look really good when prospective students rolled through.
the mouse in the candy machine is not a myth. he got in there. gorged himself on delicious snacks. could not escape. and died peaceful, stuffed. i plucked him out and put him in the cafeteria trash.
But this was in the old black candy machine. the new gray one is mouse free as far as i know.
The government takes part of our paycheck without our consent, but we are compensated by being given a right to vote. The concept of no taxation without representation is as alive as the mice in the library (unless you live in DC). I think students are asking for some sort of vote on what happens to a very small portion (the cost of a microwave or mouse traps) of the money they spend on this school.
1. How dare us 1Ls eat during our only available time (since all of our classes are scheduled for us), and furthermore, how dare us eat in the only place that we have to eat, the cafeteria. At most, you are a 3L, and therefore only 1.5 years removed from 1L year...are you that dumb that you have already forgotten about having all of your classes picked for you as a 1L and having no option whatsoever as to when lunch is.
2. How does you showing your stupidity by telling everyone that you have parked in the wrong place so many times that you now have no money prove any sort of point except that you are dumb?
3. How mature and professional of you to use vulgar language...it seems that all you know how to do is hurl childish insults, make empty arguments, and in your desperate attempt to make yourself look so "over it", you actually made yourself look like a "whiny little bitch"
That's great that you are so glib about your money being unaccounted for, but some of us have put ourselves in some pretty undesirable circumstances with loans to go here. This is a law school, not the City of Boston. We came here with the promise that BC was better than other well-ranked schools because of the individualized attention we would receive. In return, we are supposed to go off in the world, be successful, and represent BC as a stellar institution. That is quite a different situation than living in the City of Boston, who really has no personal interest in its residents except for their taxes and votes.
I completely believe that our money should be spent on the professors here. I am very satisfied with my education. What I'm not so happy about is the fact that we share outdated and inadequate facilities with the undergraduate population, whose interests have been placed above ours again and again. And if that's not changeable, then lower the amount of money we pay. I simply cannot understand how other law schools, who have their own building which include a student lounge, fridge rooms, and yes, microwaves, pay the same amount as we do.
We are treated like second-class citizens and paying top-dollar for it. Stop making it seem like an issue of "common f'ing sense" to find alternatives. It demeans your colleagues who are perhaps more concerned about making the school a better place, not only for us and our money, but for future students and the reputation of the school.
Today a new microwave was unveiled in the cafeteria. Its long overdue, and in fact, only arrived thanks to the efforts of student activist Matt Maguire.
http://bostonrestaurants.blogspot.com/2010/02/kells-in-allston-to-be-replaced-by.html
i think there should be some in-depth coverage on the imminent closing of the kells.
if you really care about where your money is going and the accommodations you are provided with, then you should be outraged that the LSA was forced to use its money (a part of your student activities fees) to pay for a microwave. the administration (main campus or law school) should not be giving the LSA the run around when it has tried this entire year to get the school to buy another microwave to put in the cafeteria. instead, administrators bounced representatives from person to person, and students then unfairly blamed the LSA for failing to come to the "simple solution" of buying the microwave. the truth is, the solution was not that simple. who would take responsibility for cleaning the microwave or fixing it if it broke? would freshmen be allowed to use it even though it was bought by law students' dollars? or even more basic, would the LSA even get permission to put a student-purchased microwave in the cafeteria? all in all, i do not see that it was the LSA's responsibility in the first place to solve the problem of the microwave. it should be the administration, just like it is their responsibility to upkeep the facilities.
Dissatisfied 1L's comment illustrates perfectly why BCLS needs a basic economics and civics class... or higher admissions standards.
I'm actually pissed the LSA spent money to buy a microwave. Not only is it not their responsibility, but I'd say the bulk of the student body doesn't even use either microwave ever. In my experience there are often just as many undergrads using the microwaves as law students. I understand that not everything the LSA spends money on will benefit or satisfy every single person (I'm looking at you April Robinson), but I have never in 2.5 years of law school used the microwave in Stuart and would imagine that a very small % of the student body actually does. (Obviously enough to make it busy but I'd still say less than 25% of the student body). I definitely think the caf needed another microwave from all the complaining about it, but that is absolutely NOT something LSA is responsible for or why a chunk of the money we pay goes to fund LSA.
I thought this post was hilarious. I know it sounds corny, but even though you are "Over It," I'm not "Over You." Dont't. Stop. Writing.
WTF: WTF? Instead of being mean, why don't you actually put forth an argument? Or point out why you think my argument is wrong instead of being completely condescending? You illustrate to me why people hate lawyers.
This post is hilarious!!!
In re: to some of the negative responses: who ever said law students take themselves too seriously??? Especially when we are being treated as "second-class citizens"!!!
We have it good guys. Even with insufficient microwaves. Seriously.
No dissatisfied 1L, people hate lawyers because they use words like "glib" and get all up in arms about a freakin' microwave.
And if you're pissed that we share "outdated and inadequate facilities with the undergraduate population" please notice that the undergraduate "population" would be all of them, and not just the freshmen, and if you have that big of a problem with it WHY DID YOU COME HERE? Did you not take a tour and note the presence of the freshmeat? Do you know how many real lawyers would be thrilled to be surrounded by 18 year olds? How are their interests placed above ours by the way? Because I don't remember seeing any examples in your argument. How pissed would you be if there was a nice library on the campus where you live that you weren't allowed to use?
And lastly:
"I simply cannot understand how other law schools, who have their own building which include a student lounge, fridge rooms, and yes, microwaves, pay the same amount as we do."
Fridge rooms? They need their own rooms now? And really? You simply can't understand it? Fun fact: you're paying for your education, not the use of a microwave or the cafeteria. Chill out.
Also, law schools are not people. "who" should be replaced by "which" or "that." Your choice. Sorry, needed to throw some condescending in there.
The most hilarious part of this post and the ensuing comments is someone claiming Matt Maguire has ANYTHING AT ALL to do with the new microwave. That HAS to be a joke.