A Matter of Plain Courtesy

One of the most frustrating things about sharing anything in common with a large number of people is that, invariably, a few people will take that diffusion of responsibility as an open invitation to act as though personal responsibility is somehow non-existent altogether.

Such is the case with living in Walsh Hall, where a number of residents enjoy treating the place as though no one else lived there and pretending as though the dorm were a municipal city dump.

On a number of occasions, and most recently on Saturday night, people have beautified the hallways, staircases, walls, and elevators with an eclectic variety of filth including beer cans and bottles, the cardboard boxes left over from 30-racks, chicken fingers and fries from late night, condiments, and, of course, vomit.

As someone who has never felt compelled (just as the overwhelming majority of Walsh residents) to redo Walsh's interior decoration with these wonderful ornaments, it's quite frustrating when I see other people taking up this duty. It's frustrating because I, like most people, am not the one that's acting like a six-year-old and yet might have to deal with the consequences of those who are.

Here is just one glaring example, which I'm sure almost everyone in Walsh remembers from the start of the semester, of what happens in Walsh when people drink more than they can handle. Someone pulled a fire extinguisher out of its holder on the fourth floor hallway of Walsh at some ridiculously early hour, setting off the fire alarm and forcing everyone to evacuate the building for well over an hour, leaving them to stand in what felt like sub-zero temperatures. Since people couldn't return to their rooms for so long, people had to go to their friends' rooms in Edmond's or Vanderslice Hall if they wanted to avoid catching hypothermia.

I don't want to overdramatize and act as though this sort of behavior is ruining my experience at Boston College, because it certainly isn't. Walsh Hall is still a great place to live, and I enjoy the fact that people are always coming in and out on the weekends to hang out with their friends.

But, and I'm afraid there's no gentle way to put it, whoever has been doing the damage to Walsh (or any dorm for that matter) needs to grow up. It might be fun for you to see how many shots of 151 you can down and then chase with a game of Edward Fortyhands but it's no fun for others to have to deal with your puke, the mess you make, cleaning up after you, and putting you to bed like you were still in pre-school. Not only is it annoying for the people who have to directly deal with you, but also it's annoying when the cops show up because of you and other people have to worry about dealing with them.

I understand that people obviously act stupidly when they're drunk, and that's fine. But really, it's not simply a matter of course that someone will rip down ceiling tiles or throw a trash can full of food and beer down a staircase or into an elevator. That also, quite obviously, takes a deliberate effort.

In short, everybody's lives would be easier if, when drinking, everyone in Walsh would act like a sophomore in college rather than a sophomore in high school. Difficult as it might be for some, it would be much appreciated if you could at least try.