Spring Break
Freshman Voices: Oxymorons at the University
Stacy Litz
Issue date: 9/28/07 Section: Ed-Op
- Page 1 of 1
It seems like my life is becoming one giant paradox, and Drexel isn't helping.
I don't understand why there are so many oxymoronic situations here. I just realized this, randomly, while in line at one of the many ice cream social events.
I asked for a mix of two different scoops of ice cream, and after telling me that I may only have one scoop of one flavor, she instructed a co-worker to give me two scoops of another flavor.
Confused, I walked away. Why would she tell me that I could only have one scoop, but then allow me to have two?
After this puzzling situation, I began to think more about my contradicting existence. We hear about it everywhere: the infamous "Freshman 15" (more like the "Freshman 15,000"). Honestly, if the school didn't want us to gain weight, they wouldn't make freshman get all you can eat meal plans plus $200 flex dollars (there won't be much flexing after fall term).
Also, the plethora of events, mixers, and socials give even more opportunities for students to get an A+ in Food 101. How are students expected to have the responsibility to control themselves when surrounded by so many engaging temptations?
Speaking of food, I went on a journey to Ross Commons at 10 p.m., and noticed that the only eatery that was closed was the Corner Café, which is the only place that sells coffee, and a lot of students would like to use their flex dollars towards a late night cup of joe. I walked out, and ended up going to 7/11 for some coffee. Disgruntled, I used my own money instead of my meal plan.
I find it amusing when students refer to all the prizes, give-aways, and, yes, food as "free". Even though they don't have a monetary amount attached to them, the paraphernalia is not free, just advertised that way. Your tuition is paying for all of it, and so, in reality, your own money being handed back to you.
As the list of oxymorons grew at Drexel, I realized how my whole life has been following in this pattern. My parents often threw me for a loop by giving me orders, following them, and then being told that they want the complete opposite out of me. For example, at the age of 16, I was told to get a job. When I was accepted and hired, they told me that they didn't want to drive me to work and wouldn't let me borrow the car. Every time that they drove me to work, they complained and complained, making me feel like I did something wrong. The same situation came about regarding the clothes I wore, the colleges that I applied to, the clubs I joined, et cetera.
It's been said, and many psychology majors might be able to back me up, that leading a life with many ironic, illogical states of affairs will lead to possible schizophrenia. Considering the number of times in which this has happened in my whole life, consider me already gone. I hope this is a warning to fellow Drexel students: try to live a life of conformity.
Stacy Litz is a freshman majoring in political science. She can be reached at ed-op@thetriangle.org
I don't understand why there are so many oxymoronic situations here. I just realized this, randomly, while in line at one of the many ice cream social events.
I asked for a mix of two different scoops of ice cream, and after telling me that I may only have one scoop of one flavor, she instructed a co-worker to give me two scoops of another flavor.
Confused, I walked away. Why would she tell me that I could only have one scoop, but then allow me to have two?
After this puzzling situation, I began to think more about my contradicting existence. We hear about it everywhere: the infamous "Freshman 15" (more like the "Freshman 15,000"). Honestly, if the school didn't want us to gain weight, they wouldn't make freshman get all you can eat meal plans plus $200 flex dollars (there won't be much flexing after fall term).
Also, the plethora of events, mixers, and socials give even more opportunities for students to get an A+ in Food 101. How are students expected to have the responsibility to control themselves when surrounded by so many engaging temptations?
Speaking of food, I went on a journey to Ross Commons at 10 p.m., and noticed that the only eatery that was closed was the Corner Café, which is the only place that sells coffee, and a lot of students would like to use their flex dollars towards a late night cup of joe. I walked out, and ended up going to 7/11 for some coffee. Disgruntled, I used my own money instead of my meal plan.
I find it amusing when students refer to all the prizes, give-aways, and, yes, food as "free". Even though they don't have a monetary amount attached to them, the paraphernalia is not free, just advertised that way. Your tuition is paying for all of it, and so, in reality, your own money being handed back to you.
As the list of oxymorons grew at Drexel, I realized how my whole life has been following in this pattern. My parents often threw me for a loop by giving me orders, following them, and then being told that they want the complete opposite out of me. For example, at the age of 16, I was told to get a job. When I was accepted and hired, they told me that they didn't want to drive me to work and wouldn't let me borrow the car. Every time that they drove me to work, they complained and complained, making me feel like I did something wrong. The same situation came about regarding the clothes I wore, the colleges that I applied to, the clubs I joined, et cetera.
It's been said, and many psychology majors might be able to back me up, that leading a life with many ironic, illogical states of affairs will lead to possible schizophrenia. Considering the number of times in which this has happened in my whole life, consider me already gone. I hope this is a warning to fellow Drexel students: try to live a life of conformity.
Stacy Litz is a freshman majoring in political science. She can be reached at ed-op@thetriangle.org
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Gavin Borwn-Simmons McCullum
posted 9/28/07 @ 3:57 PM EST
An oxymoron is always a Rhetorical Phrase where two things that are usually contradictory are combined to dramatic effect. Sometimes oxymora appear as words that are merely incongruous but accepted as opposites in their common use ('reddish blue' or 'medium large'). (Continued…)
Josh
posted 10/01/07 @ 3:41 PM EST
1. So you got what you asked for from the ice cream person. What's so wrong about that? Maybe the policy was that you could only have one flavor, so they told you the policy, but decided that it didn't make sense and they wanted to be nice to you. (Continued…)
Stacy Litz
posted 10/01/07 @ 7:00 PM EST
Lol.
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