I may be the only one to have noticed or even raised an eyebrow at the apparent attacks on the Spirit of Ricks, but I’m sure you all have noticed on your way to and from class that people just don’t say hello anymore.
Or maybe you haven’t noticed because you are one of the impolite offenders walking around campus destroying that loving spirit.
Could it be the increase of cell phone use on campus or of portable MP3 players?
Even though I think those two are very guilty suspects, I feel that there is an even more powerful adversary to the Spirit of Ricks.
Menacing ice build-up!
I know you are thinking, “How does that affect the conversational greetings between us students?”
Let me give you an example: A couple of years ago, during a wintry semester just like this one, I walked to the Smith Building every morning for a 9 a.m. English class.
On my way to class I would have to walk through a few parking lots.
The soft, white and harmless snow had gone through many melt and refreeze cycles to create an ice-minefield of danger commonly found in Rexburg.
I could do the ice-walk well; you know which one I mean. The slide walk that must be done no matter how awkward your flailing arms, tightrope stance and stiff-legged movements look.
As usual, I was late for class and in turn was walking close to double-time. I was about halfway through the parking lot, in between two parked cars, when I heard a friend shout hello from across the lot.
As soon as my eyes left the ice in search of that friendly voice, it was over. My friend came running to my side as I lay there on my back and, yes, he was laughing.
I am not a tall guy, so from his view he saw my eyes lift to him in greeting and my face wrench in terror as I disappeared between the two cars.
Just as quickly as my head disappeared over the roof of one of the cars, my feet popped up to greet him. I must admit while on my back I recapped in my mind what my spill must have looked like, and even then I started to laugh.
Although this accident brought my friend and I together in the end, it did discourage me from greeting other friends I may meet while crossing the treacherous ice.
This battle between the Spirit of Ricks and walkway ice is one that will forever be waged. It is our responsibility to understand the battle and do what we can.
In the words of G.I. Joe, “Now you know and knowing is half the battle.”
Never take your eyes off the ice and know that if someone doesn’t say hi, they are only trying to travel without incident.
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