A Carleton College Week One of Fall Term 2009 Update from Third Year Student Mark "Scourge of the Midwest" Olson

A man without a mustache is like a cup of tea without sugar.
-English Proverb

I like that quote and it reminded me of when Ted and I (and sorta Nonberg, although he cheated) did mustache club.



Okay, So here is my Carleton update. I forget that several of those who read this blog are not anywhere near Carleton.

Swimming Stuff:
So on Wednesday, we had our first team meeting. First things first, the email said there would be snacks. Upon arrival, I soon found out... that there were actually no snacks to be found. I made my unhappiness known to a few select individuals. There were a lot of us there. I think the girls have somewhere between 5-9 freshman, and the guys have about 12ish. I know some are on the fence though. The coaches and captains introduces themselves and then we broke off into genders, where we did introductions and a lil Q & A for the freshman. Then that was pretty much it. We went to a team dinner at Burton, which has experienced some changes (I'll explain later).

The freshman seem cool. Rumors are that some have a bit of a cockiness to them (I don't know what about, exactly - someone just said that). I think they just might be freshman, and I'll give em a chance. Some are quite cool though. Some of the guys played knock out today, which was tight. A few of the fresh ones showed up and a couple of them were pretty damn good (Momoru, for example). I think the Cocktail Party is going to be a gee golly good time.

Okay, Burton - Bad things first: The long tables are gone. Instead they have been replaces by small tables that are perpendicular to the windows/wall. They seat about 6 - 8. This new format does fit more people in the space. However, it is terrible for team unity. I've already started a "Comment Card Campaign." Louise, Brenner and Djem are quite enthusiastic about writing serious and silly cards about the issue. Boo short tables.

Another change is the elimination of Mundo Latino... Instead there is a World station that will supposably serve mundo latino-like dishes occasionally, but has only served bad curry for the past week. (Also this new World station is where heartland prairie used to be and the heartlannd is now where mundo latino used to be...) Boo no Mundo Latino.

They have also changed the entry way to the Sevy side of Burton. Now the ONLY enterance is through the double doors by the bathroom. That big block door where we used to enter is now always closed. Boo it being harder to sneak in.

Also (this is temporary but it still sucks), the new freshman dining hall workers are still scared to give more than the serving size their boss says they can. MEANING that I had to go up and get THREE plates full of Sweet Potatoe Fries, because the little chubby white girl freshman was to afraid of the big black chef. Hopefully this will subside soon. Boo incompetent dining hall workers and fear mongering supervisors.

Positive changes to Burton (there are only a few):
The mysterious room behind the double doors which where right by our long table and the coat rack is now a dining area. There are a few bigger tables and the team is considering taking over that room each dinner. (Providing more space there gives them less of a reason to not change back to the long tables, right?)

There is now a tray return over by the tea room. Although I do not use the tea room (like at all), this is good for the Carleton community.

Also, on an unrelated note, last weekend Caitlin and Black Ice stopped by when Megan's townhouse (Euchster) threw a lil rager! Good times were had by all.

Okay, that was the Burton Dining Hall Status Report Tangent and Carleton Status Report. Over and Out.