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the remarker | Friday nov. 2, 2012
20
‘...and this tall guy has his arm around my sister. Not okay.’
Daniel
Hersh
M
“How do I look?” she asks. It’s her freshman year Sadie’s dance tonight. “Has Dad seen this yet?” She ignores my question. He’s out of town. How can she go out in public like this? This is my little sister. She doesn’t do anything with guys. No. She just can’t. ••• I think back to the Slightly Stoopid concert. Short-shorts everywhere, and it looked like some girls thought wearing a shirt was optional. “These girls look hot,” I thought to myself. I didn’t judge, I didn’t care. Hell – I’ll admit it – I even liked it. They were just having fun at a concert, dressing however
iniature jeans shorts cling to her legs tighter than a first grader to his senior buddy’s neck at the Christmas party. As she struts through the house, the ends of her way-toolow-cut black AC/DC shirt flutter through the air. I stare at my “little” sister, Rachel. “…You’re wearing that?”
There is no way I’m going to let my innocent little sister go to Sadie’s with this random guy whom I have never met before. And this tall guy has his arm around my sister. Not okay.
they wanted. I didn’t care how they dressed, and I figured I never would. They were old enough to choose their wardrobe for themselves. I figured my philosophy would last for good. None of that over-protective parent stuff. I won’t be the parent who doesn’t let his kid go to concerts or who harasses him to do his homework every night. My kids will have a free spirit and lots of fun. I’ll be the cool dad. Laid back, but still able to raise an upstanding kid. It can’t be that hard, right? “Son, go have a good time. Be responsible. But have fun.” I’m not saying I won’t discipline my children when it’s needed, but I
don’t want to be the dad who won’t let his daughter go out because her skirt stops above her knee. But of course, remember who’s talking: an 18 year-old guy. I’ll trust her to make that decision for herself. As long as she is comfortable with what she is wearing, then I’ll be fine with it too. That’s my philosophy. ••• Well, that didn’t last too long. I try my best to stay upstairs while my sister and her date take pictures. Watching The Office takes my mind off what is going on down in the living room. But when I come down to grab some dinner, I catch a glimpse of them. Okay, her date is taller than me. Strike three. I don’t care if there’s no
strike one or two. I’m definitely not cool with this. There is no way I’m going to let my innocent little sister go to Sadie’s with this random guy whom I have never met before. And this tall guy has his arm around my sister. Not okay. I guess I’m not going to be as cool of a dad as I thought. I guess I’m going to give my kid an early curfew and get angry if she misses it. I guess I’m going to end up being one of those over-protective parents. Future daughter: Sorry. I know it’s not fair, but it’s non-negotiable. I apologize in advance. Now go change that skirt.
Talking heads
Matthew Brown
r
What do you think of x2VOL in general? x2VOL’s horrible. I know we had an introduction to x2VOL, but it’s still hard to use. It’s really stressful. Have you volunteered more or less hours now that x2VOL’s in place? Definitely less. It’s a lot harder to sign up, and you never know who’s going and who the project representative is. It also ruined the tradition of running to the community service board in Centennial to sign up for projects. What about the problems with x2VOL? The first time I tried to register and log in, it took forever. x2VOL also thought I was a Community Service board member. And some people haven’t even registered yet. How about the problem of full projects and people who drop out at the last minute? Most projects are filled up by people who know how to work the website. Then if they find out they can’t go, they cancel at the last minute. People who know how to work x2VOL better than others can get more hours because they get the spots first. Before, everybody knew where to go to sign up for projects. Now it’s just a matter of how well you know how to work x2VOL. Why’s the old system with the community service board better than x2VOL? Last year, I went to projects with friends, and we did the job well. But if you’re alone and don’t know anyone around you, you’re not as likely to work together. Most people I’ve talked to dislike x2VOL. The whole process makes it really difficult to help out the community.
What do you think of x2VOL in general? x2VOL is a well thought-out tool that is a necessary evolution of the old system. I understand the viewpoint of those who are against x2VOL: it was mine for a while. Change is hard, but it’s usually necessary. Have you volunteered more or less hours now that x2VOL’s in place? My level of volunteering remains unchanged by x2VOL. What about the problems with x2VOL, like issues with logging in? There is definitely something to be said for the old paper system. Humans finished debugging paper thousands of years ago; x2VOL is brand new. While there’s bound to be an issue at the outset, I think most have been resolved at this point. How about the problem of full projects and people who drop out at the last minute? The paper system required a higher standard of commitment. Now, guys can revoke their commitment with the click of a button whenever it’s convenient. This is an inherent flaw in the system, and something that should possibly be addressed as a matter of integrity. Why is x2VOL better than the old system? Despite the flaws, x2VOL is a great tool to get us more involved in and aware of community service. Having a 24-hour personal portal for community service is a definite improvement over journeying to the unknown realm of the community service board. Overall, I believe it will help to strengthen out school’s already deep commitment to community service.
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The Community Service Board’s new system of sign up procedures and reporting for various service projects, x2VOL has been met by Marksmen with both criticism and praise. We asked two students, junior Matthew Brown and senior Michael Gilliland, for their opinions.
Michael Gilliland
remarker student newspaper
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