ThePeot
Friday, January 26, 2007
Page A3
Opinions
Bumping elbows andiO|iinions about new cat
By Matt Tessnear
matthewl984@earthlink. net
Raise your hand if
you’ve eaten in the GWU
cafeteria in 2007.
Unless you’ve been fast
ing, or don’t live on cam
pus, it’s likely you’ve no
ticed the major changes in
the cafeteria since returning
to Boiling Springs for this
spring semester.
Gone are the simple
carpeted-and-tile floors.
Gone is the mundane color
scheme, replaced by warm
reds and oranges. Black
hanging TVs were traded in
for flat screen TVs, which
have touch-screen capabili
ties in the upstairs section
of the caf Long, cafeteria-
style tables have given way
to four-seaters in an appar
ent attempt to create a more
intimate atmosphere. The
salad bar is now a mas
sive food center with salad,
soup, bread and fresh cook
ing. I’ve entered the room
multiple times to the sound
of Billy Joel’s classic “Pi
ano Man.” Maybe you get
the picmre.
And, to clarify, the food
is essentially the same.
Tessnear
G W U ’ s
caf’s facelift
was purely
physical.
I prom
ised myself
I wouldn’t
address the
new caf
eteria in
this column, but I followed
that by promising myself to
break it. After eating in the
new caf for two weeks, I
think the changes have set in
enough for me to adequately
address them. Renovations
in the cafeteria, and the ad
dition of comfy chairs and
a flat-screen TV dovmstairs
by the mailboxes, are the
biggest physical changes to
campus since my class in
vaded town in 2003.
The football stadium
received a massive face
lift several years ago, but
the caf directly affects far
more students on this cam
pus. Most resident students
eat in the caf at least once
a day during the week, with
freshmen eating there more.
The changes to the caf are
monumental, especially for
Gardner-Webb, a school
recognized by most of its
students for a lack of abil
ity to change the everyday
routine.
To this point, the mix
of opinions on our eating
arena has been about 50-50.
I meet as many people who
are delighted about the new
atmosphere as ones who are
disgusted. Those in favor of
the changes don’t seem to
have anything to say other
than “This is great,” while
smiling.
Students with criticism
delve a bit deeper and pro
vide reasons for their opin
ions. The critics like the
atmosphere, find the mu
sic as an enhancement and
approve of the attempt to
better the living environ
ment for the univajjty’s
students. However, tl^Prit-
ics also seem to be the ones
that ponder the impact of
the changes on the student
body as a whole. The critics
have examined the reality
of the situation. The space
in our Dover Campus Cen
ter wasn’t large enough for
such drastic changes.
I understand that our
university would love to
build a new campus center.
I understand that changes
OPINION: Age discrimination beyond older
generation can affect college students, too
By Christine Tamer
The Lariat (Baylor U.)
(U-WIRE) WACO, Tex
as - I personally don’t own
a lot of expensive things,
but my parents sure know
how to sport the Benz. They
dress up, go out and get
treated like they’re worth it.
Rolex watch equals a
fast drink order at Ruth’s
Sfeakhouse.
Prada purse equals an
instant dressing room at
Nordstrom’s.
Diamond rock equals a,
“Can I get you a Pierre while
you’re shopping, ma’am?”
As a bystander, I have
watched in amazement and
have concluded that wrin
kles on the face or money
in the pocket equals respect,
adoration and best of all,
customer service.
We have all grown up
hearing about the “isms.”
I knew racism and sex
ism, but 1 didn’t know much
about ageism until I fell vic
tim to it.
Ageism, as defined in
the dictionary, is discrimi
nation based on age. Going
on 21 years, I am a victim.
This past weekend I
strolled into a local restau
rant for a late lunch. Natu
rally, I wasn’t dressed to the
nines, but was instead wear
ing my Baylor sweatshirt,
holey jeans and that “f-just-
woke-up-at-2 p.m.” hair-do.
Regardless, I was bright,
cheerful and found myself
to be worthy of a nice after
noon.
But as I opened the door
I instantly received a feeling
of disdain exhibited by the
waiter who begrudgingly
sat me in his section. He
looked familiar. Why the
attitude, pal? I’m not going
to shout profanities, spill
salsa or stomp dance on the
table.
Let me eat!
“What can I get you to
drink?” he asked.
“I’ll just have water with
a lemon, please,” I replied.
Twelve minutes later,
it arrived. My first mistake
was clear. When you order
water, it conveys the mes
sage that you are either
cheap or poor. Strike one.
The waiter returned to
take my meal order. “I’ll
have the lettuce wrap appe
tizer, please.”
He glared, “And?” I
stopped and thought, “Oh
no, oh no. He’s going to spit
in my food because I didn’t
order more. My meal tab
would be $8. Not enough.
Twenty percent of eight is
$1.60. Should I get more?
But I just want the dam let
tuce wraps. I’m not a scor
pion woman! I know how it
feels to work for tips. I’ve
been there; I’ll tip you more.
Just give me the wraps, oh
please?”
“Excuse me. Anything
else?” he asked.
“Nope, that’ll do it.
Thank you.” I began to turn
a pinkish color. This, my
friends, is absolutely a^u-
lous.
Why should I be ashamed
to order what I want? Why
should I be discriminated
against because I don’t have
the money for the creme
brule and the seared tuna?
I’m appalled. I’m outraged.
I’m in college, and I just
want to fill my stomach and
be on my merry little way! I
just want to be treated like
a human, not a poor, rowdy
college kid. What evoj^p-
pened to good old-fasBped
customer service?
Tom? That is Tom! I
knew the waiter’s face was
familiar. He sat behind me
in class last year.
Oh, Tom, you don’t have
a lot of money, either. You’re
a college kid, too. You can’t
afford the steak, either.
The anger began to boil.
You hypocrite! You’re 20,
and I’m 20. Let me use
young, hip language to con
vey my message to you:
“What gives?”
Simply put, ageism is
wrong. Even more ridicu
lous is the fact we are doing
it to ourselves.
I even want to some
times order off the kids’
menu. Wait, I may have just
crossed the line.
Students losing sight of educational goal9
By Caitlin Cuppernull
The Daily Cougar (U. Houston)
(U-WIRE) HOUS
TON - It’s not unusual to
glance around a classroom
and see a good portion of
people sleeping. If they’re
not curled up during the
lecture, fellow classmates
are text-messaging friends,
whispering to each other or
doing any number of things
to avoid the one reason they
are attending school: to
learn.
While socializing is cer
tainly an important part of
college, it is not difficult
to spend a few hours a day
doing nothing but learn
ing. In fact, that should be
something to look forward
to. College is the one time
in a person’s life where the
main goal is education. In
a University that is full of
award-winning professors.
students should use their
time at UH to benefit from
this.
Students often claim that
they have to go to college
to secure a job or that their
parents are making them.
What was once considered
a privilege is starting to be
seen as a forced necessity.
Those who don’t have a de
sire to learn should not at
tend college. While it can be
argued that a college educa
tion is required to have a
high-powered career, this
fact does not have to take
away the pleasure of learn
ing — one shouldn’t regard
education as an obligation.
taken advantage of by wast
ing time and money sitting
through classes one does not
want to be in. A passion for
learning should be the main
reason to attend school, and
this passion should extend
well beyond classrooms and
Freshman Caitlin Cupper
null is the Opinion Editor.
were needed to attract fu
ture students. However, the
differences in the caf have
taken away from the enjoy
ment just as much as much
as they’ve added to the at
mosphere.
As this university’s
number of students increas
es, the room in the caf was
decreased over semester
break. The size of the salad
bar/food center in the center
of the room, as well as the
arrangement of the seating,
provides very few lanes for
walking. Maybe that’s not a
big deal for some, but I’m
6-feet-4-inches tall. I need
a little room to move. Tm
also fond of my personal
space. I need a little room
■ eathe. I don’t think I’ve
1 in the caf once with
out running over another
student or bumping elbows
as I strive to eat a meal. I try
to be polite, but “I’m sorry”
and “excuse me” just don’t
have the same ring when I
use them so many times.
“We have great things in
mind” has been the motto at
GWU for about two years.
With a new football com
plex, beautification projects
throughout campus, and
now changes in the DCC,
I truly believe that admin
istrators are attempting to
make this a great place for
students. However, I’m not
sure that the striving for
great things always comes
with a complete thought
process.
I love the way our caf
looks now. The atmosphere
was downright dormant and
boring before and, quite
honestly, I had very little
motivation to go eat any
meal in that room.
But the potential for
change wasn’t met with
a month-long renovation
project. I’ve seen other
private college campuses
of comparable size and a
comparable tuition figure.
Some of them have recently
made improvements and
they have fit the profile and
needs of the campus.
For example, Campbell
University in Buies Creek
recently changed its food
service facilities. They
added an on-campus Chic-
Fil-A, which is an option on
the meal plan. In a separate,
existing building, a caf
eteria and coffee shop were
created. They also have two
other dining halls on cam
pus, which provide differ
ent meal options. Gardner-
Webb has slightly fewer
students, but not enough
to warrant having a narrow
option of dining on campus.
The caf'S atmosphere is
nice, but I’d rather sacrifice
looks for comfort at some
point. I’m currently at that
point in our cafeteria.
I would’ve liked to have
seen the university make se
rious strides to tap into the
opinions of the student body
before making the decision
to renovate our caf The
quality of food service isn’t
improved by new tables and
^fancy TVs. Seeking a way
to provide more dining op
tions, in different locations,
for our students would have
pleased me more.
I would have rather
graduated in May not hav
ing eaten in this pretty caf
eteria, but knowing that ad
ditional meal options would
be available to students in
the future. That’s just my
opinion, and like the caf’s
new look, you can take it or
leave it. For the last time,
excuse me for bumping into
you in the burger line.
WISDOM ON WHEELS:
Four random wishes for 2007
By Jacob Conley
jacl 211 @gardner-webb. edu
Happy New Year, every
body. The new semester has
sta|^d and people, myself
il^Pded, have made New
Year’s resolutions. In my
case, they last approximate
ly 72 hours.
This year I’ve come up
with a wish list of things I’d
like to see happen in 2007.
As usual, the majority of
this list is sports-related,
but to prove that I’m well-
rounded and not solely a
sports addict, I’ve also in
cluded a few personal goals
anJ|wishes.
I wish that Adam Mor
rison could find a barber in
Charlotte that he likes. I can
understand having long hair
in Spokane to keep your
head warm during the win
ter, but this is North Caro
lina. We usually have mild
winters and, according to a
roommate who ascribes to
the gospel of global warm
ing, it will continue to get
warmer until the Arctic re
sembles Arizona.
Morrison is supposed to
be the face of Bobcats bas
ketball. If that’s the case, the
rest of the NBA thinks that
we are mustache-wearing
hippies. Adam,'if you ever
read this, here’s a piece of
advice. You’re a great play
er, but you are not Sampson.
Your strength lies in jump
shals, not you hair. Please
cut.
2. I wish I could con-
Conley
ways. For
me person
ally, I would
never pull
for UNC,
even if they
were play
ing the Iraqi
national
team and the
wiimer received 2 tons of
enriched plutonium. I hate
them that much.
3. One of my goals for
2007 is to launch a line
of Christian boxer shorts
called “Joy Boxers.” Slo
gans would include, “Turn
the other cheek,” “Be fmit-
ful and multiply” and “Make
a joyful noise.” You get the
idea.
If anybody has an idea
for new slogans or wants
to place an order, let me
know.
4. I know I like to joke
around a lot, but my last
goal is a serious one. It is
also two-fold. I want to
represent Gardner-Webb to
the best of my ability, not
only as a member of SGA,
but also as a member of the
newly-formed Quiz Bowl
team.
This is my opportunity to
compete for and give some
thing back to the school
that has given so much to
me over the past five years.
I just want my readers to
know that the other mem
bers of the team and I will
try to be the biggest nerds
in the Big South and bring
that trophy back to Boiling
Springs, where it belongs.
The Pilot
Bob Carey and Nancy-Pat Dire
Faculty Advisors
Matt Tessnear
Editor and Chief
Krystina Sigmon
Designer
Rachel Lloyd and Katie Bryant
Photo Editors
vince people that you can’t
root for both Duke and
North Carolina. It’s impos
sible.
Don’t believe me? Then
listen to what Jesus says in
Matthew 6:24: “No one can
serve two masters, for ei
ther he will hate the one and
love the other, or he will be
devoted to the one and de
spise the other.”
You can’t have it both
Jared Graf
Sports Editor
Ashley Chatham
Ali Cunningham
Karl Kakadelis
Staff Writers
Bark about it!
As tuition continues
to rise, students should be
thankful they have the op
portunity to attend school
— no matter the reason they
are here. However, that op
portunity should not be
Got a bone to pick about
something going on at
Gardner-Webb, in the com
munity or elsewhere? Have
an insightful thought you’d
like to share? Ifyou’d like to
unleash your opinions^|ut
issues that are imporMFto
you, we’d like to publish
your comments in each edi
tion of The Pilot. E-mail us
at pilot@gardner-webb.edu.
or drop off a response at
campus P.O. Box 5192. You
must include your name,
hometown and academic
year with each comment.
Please keep your com-
Q^ts less than 50 words.
^Reserve the right to edit
all comments for AP style,
length and appropriate con
tent. Bark about it and get
your opinion printed today!
Haley Black
Ashley Carter
Kate Gazaway
Kayley Potter
Rachel Tucker
Staff Photographers
Phone Number: 704-406-3533
P.O. Box 5192
pilot@gardner-webb.edu
www.gwupilot.com
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