Today's Mighty Oak

Dr. Oddfeeling, or how I learned to cry and take a nap!



I posted this thread over at UruObsession:

So…sit down everyone and listen to the story of my move in to college (for those moving into college for the first time this year, please do not be worried, the following account is under very special circumstances).

Today is Wednesday, August 17. The upperclassmen students move onto campus on Sunday, August 28. Being the editor of my school's newspaper, I move in early to get set up and put together a welcome back issue (hits the stands the first day of class).

I called my director of residence life, everything was good.
I called my advisor at the newspaper, everything was good.
I called my dean of students, everything was good.

And then, I turned on the news. You see, I go to Saint Vincent College. SVC hosts the training camp of the Pittsburgh Steelers. As such, it was just rated by Sports Illustrated as the number one "fan friendly" training camp. The Steelers had a very good year last year (except when Big Ben got to the playoffs, but I digress). To top if all off, the news reported that Ward, who was holding out was to return to camp this very day. Joy!

Many people think it is so cool that I go to the school where the Steeler's practice…often I smile and nod and attempt to change the subject
You see, as a student, it is horrible. The Steelers come onto campus for a month and a half and disrupt everything! They take over two dorms (one for them, one for press), a third building which is on constant reserve for ESPN and our student center (we get to keep a small portion of it). The fans are very rude and cannot respect the fact that we are taking classes over the summer, working and trying to live. Just to get back to my dorm I have to fight through crowds! The campus is constantly filled and there is no place to park. Half of our cafeteria is blocked off and the students receive less than adequate service there (including no more ice cream, and it's been super hot) and to top it all off the fans have this annoying habit of leaving their cigarette butts everywhere! (I really don't hate the Steelers or their fans, please don't get me wrong, everything is just such a hassle!).

Sooooooo….I wake up, get in the car and my parents and I come up to SVC and arrive at about 10 this morning.

I pull onto campus, get a parking pass (this will be important later) and park in front of Aurelius Hall, my home for the year.

I have to go pick up my key. I decide to go through Aurelius to see if my card works (we have to scan our student id to get into the dorms). Most of the buildings are connected at SVC so not a problem. Also, the first four floors of Aurelius are offices, the top three are dorms.

My card does not work. I go through some of the offices. I stop in at Safety and Security, and have them activate my card. They didn't know I was coming in today. Funny…:

QUOTE (From above)
I called my director of residence life, everything was good.
I called my advisor at the newspaper, everything was good.
I called my dean of students, everything was good.

After that I go to the post office. I don't have a key. Funny…:

QUOTE (From above)
I called my director of residence life, everything was good.
I called my advisor at the newspaper, everything was good.
I called my dean of students, everything was good.

I go to the office of student affairs. They don't know where my key is! They give me my roomates instead.

I head back to the car and then upstairs to my room.

They are putting new tile in. No way I can move in. Funny…:

–QuoteBegin–From above+–>

QUOTE (From above)
I called my director of residence life, everything was good.
I called my advisor at the newspaper, everything was good.
I called my dean of students, everything was good.

So I go back to residence life. They try to hurry them along, they tell me my room will be ready by four o'clock. In the meantime we go to lunch. After that we meander around the bookstore trying to avoid the fans. We keep ourselves busy by doing some work in the newspaper office (although I can't do much as the internet port wasn't enabled and won't be for a few days…but I digress)

We go back to Aurelius to see what was up. They will have it ready by six o'clock. Wow, time just keeps wooshing by!

However, the manager of Facilities Management was there and he gave us special passes to go onto the field with the Steelers. We go to where all the fans are. We fight and fight our way through, getting elbowed and pushed, hit and smashed into. We get to the special gate…they aren't letting anyone else on today as practice is coming to a close…sigh.

We go back to my dorm to wait. Six o'clock comes and they aren't done (they then had to do the baseboard). However, they are done by about half past. After that, the cleaning lady comes in and does her thing (it takes her about an hour, just becasue she's slow and hates her job…but I digress).

My dad and I go down to our cars to get some stuff and start brining it in while she's finishing up (as it's 7:30) and we've been here since 10 this morning.

We have parking tickets on our cars!

We had passes.

We were moving in.

We were not even taking up regular spaces, we were in visitor spaces!

Now I am not happy about this…nor will I pay, student affairs will as they didn't have anything ready for me (and I saw my advisor and she agreed to this).

So we move all my stuff in, get it all situated, and 12 hours after I first arrived on campus I can sit down and write you all this story!

I hope you have enjoyed this story time with Mike!

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