Rah.

I am not a school spirit person. That's the hard truth, and I'm not ashamed of it. I never liked school sports, school clothes, or school in general. One of the best things about university, and especially professional school, is that no one keeps track of how many "spirit points" I've won or lost for my house by participating or refusing to participate in inane activities. However, every once in a while I feel called on to support my college by helping out with less inane, more friendly-like activities. Case in point: about a month ago I volunteered to host a BBQ in my city for past, present and future Dal Law students who might be in the area. They're putting them on all across the country and this seemed like a good way to be part of that big happy family that is Dal Law. I may have had ulterior motives - it's always nice to meet new people - but in general, I was doing this out of a love for my fellow man and a general desire to be useful.

The first hint that things might not turn out so well was the announcement that the BBQ would take place on August long weekend (a.k.a., this weekend). My response was along the lines of "What?!? Who plans a school activity for the last free long weekend in summer?!?" However, I deferred to the better judgment of those in the know, who claimed that this was the weekend that worked out best for the greatest number of people. They also didn't respond to my attempts to reschedule. Great. So I rearranged my plans and decided that I would stay in the city instead of going home to my family or heading off with some friends. Note that I've been home only one time for two days since Christmas and that once I fly out to Halifax in September, I probably won't see most of these friends until next May. But whatever - I offered up my social and familial life to what I was hoping would be the greater good.

Well, to make a long story short, no one RSVP'd and no one showed up. It was me and a few friends who I had (providentially) asked to come over when I began to suspect that this was not going to turn out to be the happening social engagement of the year. I'm not surprised - it is the long weekend and it was a miserable day for a BBQ. I don't even blame anyone: no one told them they could maybe let me know if they weren't going to come. For all I know, they probably didn't even know this was going on. Sadly, I wasn't in charge of communication for the event. I am ticked off, though. And I've decided that the embargo on school spirit is officially and irrevocably in force. I will no longer take part in events controlled from halfway across the country by some student hopped up on school spirit. It's not my thing, it's never been my thing, and I'm done with it for good. And if I ever have control of the mass media, I will send out a message to all of the sadly misinformed people out there that long weekends are not to be sullied with school events. So there.