Midnight Maddness

Screaming fans, jersey's, sweat and hardwood floors. This would define a night at the Dean Dome in Chapel Hill, NC. The night started off like any other event, waiting in line with others anticipating the arrival of the 2009-2010 basketball teams. Waiting in line with other student and alumnus waiting to cheer on the women's volleyball team before late night began.
The clock struck 4pm and the doors of the Dome were open as thousands flooded through the entrances to gain the best seat for the event. At 5pm right before the Carolina women's volleyball team took the court, UNC's arch rivals Duke came out and the Booing filled the arena. The UNC women had the crowd chanting keeping the excitement high as the beat the Blue Devil's.
Then Late Night Began, Stewart Scott of ESPN and UNC alumni took the court to MC the event. No one quite covers the event like Scott. The lights went out and the lighted pompoms were lit while screaming fans knew what was coming. The announcing of the women's team along with the display of dancing skills by the players welcomed in the start to the new season.
After the Pink v. Blue scrimmage game it was time for the main event, the MEN's TEAM. As the players where announced you almost could not help but to remember back to the previous year and the National Championship that was won. The new players joined into 100 year legacy of Carolina basketball.
With all the festivities, I could not help flashing back to the final game of last year sitting in the Dean Dome with thousands of other students and alumnus cheering on there HEELS. The running to Franklin Street after the victorious win to celebrate the momentous event. Not to mention the following day of welcoming back the 2009 National Champions. Somethings you can't help but remember when you sit in an area that is full of memories that it makes you excited for the events to come.

Understanding Devotion

I have read the Twilight Saga and fully understand the crazed fans who are enamored with the idea of Bella and Edward. The book lays out a relationship between two people from different worlds. These two worlds collide into a unusual yet quirky relationship. The two see beyond the forces that separate them and look at the things that bring them together, someone who sees "them." This relationship is one of sheer devotion that none can separate. Their connection is something that is yearned for in many relationships.

Speaking from my perspective, every woman wants some mysteriously strong connection with the one that they want to be with. For that man to comfort her, protect her, devoutly love her when she feels unlovable, and to be completely enamored with her. I am sure these feeling have been felt by many women throughout the decades. It is now being realized again through these books. I would hope that it would give women a standard. Something to aspire to into a mate. No, men are not perfect but neither are women. I believe there are ones out there that do live up to this for the mate they are intended for. The idea is to not be shocked when it occurs to you for the first time.

Procrastination at its best.

Have you ever thought, "Man, I have time to finish this." This thought swelled my mind in January. I had time to complete my articles, papers and job assignments. I was severely mistaken. It is April, I have one week left till finals roll around and everything is due. 3 papers, a test, 2 benchmarks, a manual and a final all before "Finals" begin.

Obviously procrastination has taken its toll on my life. I know I have let this little thing grow into some serious stress and not the good kind. What happened to the last 3 months. "Time flies" is not just a colloquial statement rather that the absolute truth. All I can take into account now is that I only have a week till finals. There is no other choice than to do it all now and do it well.

A Week of Unruly Conduct

Former Congressman and Presidential candidate, Tom Tancredo, came to speak at UNC-Chapel Hill about Illegal Immigration. This was cuts short due to protesters chanting in the auditorium. With the First Amendment Rights on every one's mind, free speech, the guest was only able to speak for 5 minutes. Maybe it is just me but, no matter if you agree with his opinions or not, shouldn't he be allowed to speak. He was asked to come and speak and was denied the opportunity by student who felt the need to deny him his right to free speech. Police officers entered the room to remove some of the boisterous students while keeping back the crowds in the hall.The Police did draw mace and taser to keep the crowds back after trying to ask them to move back from the doors. After the removal of the students, someone threw a rock through the window in which ended whatever the former Congressman was going to say. Police escorted students out of the building after Tancredo left. Chancellor Holden Thorp issued an apology to the former Congressman Tancredo and voiced his disappointment in the student body for their conduct. It is amazing how quickly they allowed themselves to get to the point of possibly harming others.

The next event of the week was when a Reporter was denied access to see Katie Couric receive an award from the University of South California. The reporter accepted the fact that he was not going to get in and was standing outside the building filming. While filming a campus officer came up and asked him to move. When the Reporter asked if why he had to move and when he did not two of the officers hand-cuffed him and escorted him 7 feet away from where he was standing before. The reporter had done nothing wrong but film at a public institution about the awards ceremony. He never protested anything and yet was treated like he was disrupting or infringing on others First Amendment Rights. The campus is a public institution funded by grants from the government. No matter how much they say it is private property it really is not.

Theses two events seem to show that Freedom of Speech and Press is not what it used to be. To possibly harm someone by infringing on their rights are one thing. To just speak or film in a public area and almost get arrested for it is a little absurd. Maybe I am taking this a little to far but it seems that things this week just seem a little out of whack.