 |
|
|
Monday, 4/23/2001
|
|
|
|
|
Monday, 4/23/2001
|
|
 Indiana offers cultural experiencePrep week has arrived! I know this because last week I had 20 tests. Yeah, that really sucked. At least that means we’re almost done. Granted they don’t expel me because of my part in the riots, I’m only one semester away from graduating. That’s scary to say, mostly because I still watch cartoons. It’ll be three and a half years spent in Indiana. Wow. If God had appeared to me in high school and foretold of my future in Indiana, I would have ignored him, thinking he’s just some guy wearing a bed sheet, sporting a mullet. But he was right, because I ended up spending my college years in the good old Midwest. Coming from the far east, Indiana is quite different from home. Prior to college, the only thing I could associate this place with was corn, basketball and John Cougar Mellencamp. So, for your reading pleasure, here is the gist of my cultural experience gained from college in Indiana: Say What? Let’s set the record straight. Its called soda! Say it, SO-DA! Not pop. Pop sounds like something you give your dog when it’s constipated. Did Indiana give David Letterman the job of naming it, because every time I hear that word, I crack a smile. Soda sounds so much more "drinkable." To prove my point, all the guys that go around selling beverages at sporting events wear buttons with the price on it. Well, before the "$10," the buttons says "Soda." Yes, S-O-D-A. So there. The buttons have it, case closed. Also, those white shoes we wear are not called "tennis shoes." I don’t play tennis; I never will play tennis, so why are they referred to as shoes for playing tennis? They should be called "sneakers." Sure it sounds childish, but then again, so are fences around water fountains. Uncle Sam The coolest thing about living in Indiana is paying lower taxes. Used to an 8% sales tax, I feel like I get paid to shop here. Also, most of the main roads here are free of tolls. That’s a welcome change because the second I enter New York on I-90, I’m greeted by the New York State Welcome committee, i.e. "Toll booth guys." "Welcome to New York, the land where we make you pay for something you already pay for anyway." Although it’s not enough to keep me here after I graduate, I thank this state for taking less of the money I don’t have. Where’s Waldo? Back home, colleges will never draw a crowd of 70,000 for a game. That’s because there aren’t 70,000 people in the whole state that even care. So one thing I’ve gotten used to in the Midwest is that each state has one or two colleges that are the size of cities. Not only that, but the entire state has either gone to or will go there for college. If a Hoosier doesn’t go to IU or Purdue, they’re thought of as "different." And it makes sense — in-state tuition is cheaper than buying a used car. I never would have imagined getting used to a school full of so many people, but it’s quite possible. What to do? One thing Indiana lacks is a variety of things to do. Of course this is coming from a kid who was somewhat spoiled growing up. I lived a short drive away from big lakes and mountains, so going to college in Indiana was like being sent to my room. Oh well, at least when bored at college, there’s always "studying" to pass the time. Parking Patrol The first time I saw the West Lafayette parking patrol, I thought it was some lost golfer. I can’t believe they pay a guy to go around and chalk our tires. Then they make us pay $10 for the chalk. Damn, that’s some expensive chalk. Bob Rohrman In the future, when someone comments on a really bad TV commercial, I’ll know I have them beat. I will never be able to forget the phrase, "The Bob Rohrman Auto Group, Lafayette." It will haunt me for the rest of my life. Well that’s just a few of my memories of living here. Before I know it, Indiana will be a thing of the past. I won’t miss the flat land, "pop" and Bob Rohrman commercials, but I’ll miss the great times I had here. Thank you, Indiana, for playing host to some great times (sob, sob). Well, I must sign off for the year. I hopefully will be interning next semester, so it’s been a blast writing for you guys. I especially enjoyed all the e-mails from boy band advocates. My last word of advice: Avoid angering large groups of girls. They fight back. They called me names. Take care all and have a great summer. Brian Dillon is a junior in the School of Technology. Feel free to email your comments to him at dillonb@purdue.edu. |
Indiana offers cultural experience
Prep week leaves room for interpretation
Demonstrations can prove positive Demonstrations cause awareness Article misrepresents student’s life Riots should receive support, praise Abortion renders unjust decision
OPINIONS DESK PHONE: Opinions editor:
|
|||||||
|
| ||||||||
