Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Better than a crop circle

IT WAS summery and festive today at Irvine Valley College. At about noon, a nice bluesy band played, goofy blue and white balloons bobbed in the big blue sky, and students were everywhere, smiling and having a good time.

I liked the band's version of Red House, what I heard of it.

A very prominent "information" booth stood out in front of the college's Big Lawn, impossible to miss, and staffed by our best and brightest.


Nearby, at the periphery of the Big Green, an IVC police car stood. It regularly squawed forth stern warnings against parking on the turning circle. It was perfectly absurd.

Plus the cop car's presence might have discouraged registration by felons, and that's just wrong. I mean, let's not shrink the pool. And what about diversity?

It was still pretty festive, though.

Somebody told me to be sure and take a picture of the information desk just inside the Student Services Center, so I went there, and, sure enough, there was an info desk, and it did look impressive, though nobody was there to dispense info. Probably a fluke.


I ain't carpin'. It was a good day. Something tells me this is gonna be a good semester.

One more thing about that big lawn area at the center of IVC: years ago, I hatched the plan of scattering special posy seeds (or whatever) out there to spell out "Mr. Goo" or some such nonsense. I figured it was perfect: the message would just sort of gradually appear over months.

It would be better than a crop circle, boy.

Never did get around to that. That's my one big regret.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Kathy was conspicuously missing in action from the information booth in the Student Services Center. Seems she has a passive-aggressive attitude against change.

Anonymous said...

The blues band was great.

Anonymous said...

9:29..are you kidding? The band was awful. No clue how to do a show and additude was the pits.

Anonymous said...

I saw the cop at the traffic circle too...scared the hell out of a lady who wandered into the traffic circle to get to the other side and he said through a megaphone, get out of the street, walk on the sidewalk. He wasn't at all friendly. By the way, I found Kathy in the campus police substation in the Student Services Center...I don't think she had a choice in the matter.

Anonymous said...

I heard a campus police officer chased a car off campus dropping off a student in front of the traffic circle.

Anonymous said...

Kathy will soon be working at "Wayne's World."

Anonymous said...

Tonight, at 7 pm, all the friendly information tent/booths were closing up - just as hundreds of evening students were pouring in. Me, I ran away....

Why can't we have some people staff these booths for an extra hour in the evenings during the first week of classes???

Anonymous said...

"Why can't we have some people staff these booths for an extra hour in the evenings during the first week of classes???"

Look out people, you may just get trampled by the stampede of eager faculty volunteering to perform this service.

Anonymous said...

I think the person was asking for some oversight and management by thw people whose jobs it is to do just that - anticipate and meet student needs.

Why they want to lock the doors and roll up the tents just when the evenings students arrive is beyond me.

I'd say it would take an extra four hours a semester - one hour M-Th during the first week of classes - that's it. Sort of a minimal commitment.

Again, the people who work during the day don't understand or recognize the needs of the evening population - students, staff and faculty.

And no, the "night dean" doesn't really cut it.

Anonymous said...

Step up, 10:32. You seem to have all the answers. I'll swing by next week some evening to see how you're doing.

Anonymous said...

Music concerts are not "shows" we do not "do shows". The concert was a performance or a concert, -- even if it did suck-ass big time which it most certainly probaby did. Most of these moronic groups do.

Anonymous said...

The college does not care one singel bit about services for our evening or weekend students. A&R closes, there are no information people, copiers run out of paper or break down, community adult students can't get parking permits, the weekly permit machines break down often, the place has many dangerous dark corners and uneven pavement sections, and on and on - the evening and weekenders are on their own baby. This is also not new news to the administration, they are fully aware of the unequal teatment, they simply do not care.

Anonymous said...

6:33 - taking note of others' obligations and shortfalls doesn't require one to to fulfill them - otherwise, well, I'd have to spend some time with you.

Anonymous said...

7:41;

a concert IS a show. "Show" is also a commonly used slang term for any event. Don't be an ignorant snob. Welcome to the show!

Anonymous said...

re:7:36 did you forget, we are not here for the students we are here for the paycheck. sad, very sad.
good job mr. president.
woody

Anonymous said...

by the way, waynes world is still here. just ask phil b. strong arm tactics
woody

Anonymous said...

7:41

Call me snob all you want, I am correct, you are not. You are obviously a standardless moron and clueless "dude My-Space generationer" who's air head dumbfuckery is going to destroy this once great country.

Roy's obituary in LA Times and Register: "we were lucky to have you while we did"

  This ran in the Sunday December 24, 2023 edition of the Los Angeles Times and the Orange County Register : July 14, 1955 - November 20, 2...