Scenario: A girl and her roommate are sitting in the Caf. Their friends have already left, but the two have stayed behind to talk.
Just as they begin to eye the ice cream, a group of underclassmen approaches them. They throw their Vera Bradley’s on the table, and look at the two girls.
“We don’t mean to rush you,” they say, “but we’re going to sit here.”
And off they go, bumping into strangers without apologizing.
Across the Caf, a boy has returned from the salad bar to find a surprise.
His table has been hijacked.
A stranger is sitting in a chair with his jacket on it, a jacket he placed there to indicate he would like to sit there, thank you very much.
He scans the room, searching for someone to share his indignation.
His eyes meet those of the roommates. Simultaneously, the three shake their heads. What can you do?
Rudeness is on the rise at BC.
No, we do not have empirical proof of this… but it’s really starting to bug us.
Loudly smacking gum, interrupting the professors, loud profanity, stealing caf tables...it’s all getting old.
Maybe people are stressed from midterms. Maybe everyone is just ready for some (lasting) warmth and sunshine. Maybe the Atchi-stench has effected the neurons responsible for basic manners.
Whatever the reason, it’s time to be nice again. Therefore, we would like to discuss three possible reactions to the above scenarios.
One option would be to let out a war cry and swipe all their trays from the table.
“This is Benedictine College!” You could yell. “We just don’t act like that!”
Of course, such a demonstration would most likely lead to your forced removal from the Caf.
Nothing would be resolved, and the perpetrators would still get the table.
Another option would be to just walk away, shaking with indignation.
You wouldn’t have to speak to the table snatchers, but your unfortunate friends would have to listen to you rant for days.
“This is Benedictine College,” they would mouth along, deadpan. “We just don’t act like that.”
This leaves us with the third option: a polite berating.
Hospitality is a hallmark of the Benedictine College mission.
If another student is acting uncharitable, or downright rude, then it is our responsibility to call them out on it.
This isn’t a licence to be hateful, or a call to form some kind of manners brigade.
However, you are perfectly within your rights to ask for basic respect.
Summon the girls back to the table; pull a chair up next to the guy. Plaster on your most sickeningly sweet smile and look them in the eye.
Then, explain to them why their actions are unacceptable and juvenile. Try to avoid words like “cretin” and phrases like “God saw that.”
They may resist at first, but if you talk long enough, they are bound to get up and leave.
Then, you can sit back in your rightful throne and enjoy a meal with your friends.
After all, this is Benedictine College.
We just don’t act like that.
The Circuit Editorial Board consists of sophomore Mass Communications major Melissa Keating and junior Mass Communications major Phil Ervin. They can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
