I already wrote about negative/positive energy and friends in previous entries, but I haven't gone into detail as to what kind of last minute errands people are going about and doing while they're scramblin' about getting their schedules together for the fall semester. I suppose people who haven't been in this productive phase of mind won't really understand what I'm looking at here- all the last-minute thoughts and activities going on at Gallaudet today. People are busy buying their books, looking over the schedules they got stiffed with this semester, and frantically attempting to add more and more things to their schedules, when they're probably already crammed full with activities, organizational duties and general socializing. Not necessary, I say! People need to get their heads out of the sand and realize that sometimes things are less complicated than they're making it. I say that because I've experienced four years of college and if there's one or two things I've learned, it's that simple is better.

I was just walking around the SAC and I stopped by the Multipurpose Room (MPR) to see what was up with all the orange shirts (Bison Leaders) and the new students. Several Campus Activities staff members were giving workshops to the new students, like they do for every New Student Orientation week there is, and it dawned on me. I've seen the Class of '05, '06, '07, '08 and now the Class of '09 come in and receive the exact same information every year. And still all this flurry. There's an endless stream of people scurrying back and forth between the Financial Aid Office, the bookstore, Student Accounts, the Registrar's Office, the Academic Advising office, or wherever their advisors hold their office hours. This is where the problem comes in- Gallaudet is so good at giving people information and things to do, but it's still entirely up to the student to shuttle back and forth all over campus to do all of it. Welcome to Gallaudet. I've heard that phrase so many times through my Gallaudet career, and if I had a nickel for every time I've seen that phrase all over campus, I'd be rolling in mounds of cash by now.

Which is why I repeat my mantra.. simple is better. simple is better. simple is better. When you get started with the whole flurry thing, it's better to just get a sheet of paper and write down everything you're doing this semester. I always start out thinking it'll be a really short list, but it never turns out that way. It's almost always as long as my arm... leg... and, well, it's usually as long as Kendall Green, probably, and totally unnecessary. I can't wait until all of the old vets come back and breathe some simplicity in this place, because that's what it sorely needs. Only a few more days... Enjoy your last weekend of lethargic freedom before school starts, folks.