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April 16, 2004

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Dean proposes acequia boat race

I like Association of Student Representatives (ASR) President Bryan Henderson’s idea about sidestepping the University seal in front of Northrup as a new Trinity tradition.

I would take it even further. I think we should get a real University seal – maybe a retired one from SeaWorld. It would be great to have a seal swimming in the acequia (the water canals flowing from Northrup to Stadium Drive) or the Miller fountain.

We used to have a real live tiger named LeeRoy – Why not a seal named Bryan?

Maybe not. But that does put Mr. Henderson’s idea in perspective – it isn’t silly at all. One of the common objections to having to sidestep the University seal is that it is right in front of the door. Thus, it would be too difficult to sidestep.

First off, the seal isn’t right in front of the door. I walk by it every day, and it isn’t that hard to walk around it. I haven’t touched it yet.

But how soft are we that we can’t alter a little bit of our path into a gazillion-dollar building? Mr. Henderson is not asking students to do something REALLY difficult like feed fish to Bryan (the seal) everyday.

Now that would be a challenge. Fish aren’t cheap, and they don’t sell them in the convenience store. Plus, everyone’s hands would always smell like fish.

Second, if the seal was out of the way, what kind of tradition would it be to not walk on a seal that you’d have to go out of your way to step on anyway?

Last night my wife and I walked by the acequia, and she mentioned that it would be fun to make little folded paper boats to float in the acequia. That got me to thinking more about traditions. So, like my friend Bryan (the person), I would like to propose another campus tradition.

My proposal is that during New Student Orientation, all of the new students bring their own folded paper boats to the acequia at an appointed time, write their names on the boats and put them in the water at the top of the acequia. The first boat to the bottom wins free books for the semester.

I know you are probably thinking, “Is he serious, just like Bryan (the person)?” and the answer is yes but only if people like the idea.

There is no downside to this tradition. Someone gets free books, and everyone knows that first-year students cheering on their little boats is a great bonding experience. Imagine the prestige, fame and fortune that would go with being the winner of the Great Acequia Boat Race (or as we say around the office: “GABR”).

My proposal is that during New Student Orientation, all of the new students bring their own folded paper boats to the acequia at an appointed time, write their names on the boats and put them in the water at the top of the acequia. The first boat to the bottom wins free books for the semester.

Others of you are probably thinking, “Can boats really float all the way down the acequia?” The answer is a resounding “probably.” Our student worker, Katie, agreed to put together some hastily designed paper boats and float them down the acequia to test this out. After a somewhat ugly episode with the Department of Campus Safety, she did determine that yes, boats can make it to the end of the acequia.

Traditions are hard to come by at Trinity. We bemoan the lack of them but are quick to criticize new ones that are proposed. Why not try some new things? I guess it’s up to you. Whatever floats your boat. Watch where you step.

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