> There *is* bible study though, which I missed this week because of a mandatory floor meeting.

Ah yes, mandatory dormitory floor meetings. The first couple "mandatory" floor meetings are probably somewhat mandatory. After about two weeks, at least at UNH, one discovers that "mandatory" floor meetings are actually "optional" floor meetings. "Optional" floor meetings, therefore, are "empty" floor meetings.

I always tried to avoid going to the mandatory floor meetings. Not only were they boring, useless, nonessential, and a waste of time, but I had a problem of principle with the idea that a floor meeting should be "mandatory" in the first place. Of all the responsibilities one undertakes at college, responsibilities to be an audience for the local R.A. is approximately last. Even the times I goofed around and relaxed was more productive time than would have been spent at a floor meeting. I mean, if a professor said something was mandatory, I did it. If the guy they hired to put up the social awareness bulletin board displays around the hallways said something was mandatory, I mean, gimme a break. My current landlord doesn't announce mandatory meetings with me at arbitrary times that may or may not be convenient. Good thing, too.

As I recall, Dave had the same attitude about it, but one year he had an R.A. that was a real jerk and gave him a hard time when he missed a meeting, so he found it easier just to go. I wouldn't have. I'd have made a point not to go. Call me a rebel against authority if you like. I'm really not. I just rebel against the baseless would-be authority that people like RA's try to exercise with a callous and insensitive disregard for my REAL responsibilities. Wow, I'm inexplicably worked up over this, and I haven't lived in a dorm for five years. But, really, (1) you're paying them to live there, so by what right do... (2) ...they schedule mandatory meetings at arbitrary times that are BOUND to conflict with a college's student's schedule containing MORE important commitments, when... (3) ...in the meetings, NOTHING IMPORTANT IS EVER DISCUSSED? What *audacity*.

My living arrangements through college were unusual in that I actually lived in a dorm for all four years of my Bachelor's. Most students moved to off-campus apartments after two or three years. So over four years I had four different RA's, and every single year, my RA would just magically come to understand how to deal with me. And it was probably a blessing to them. I caused absolutely NO trouble with regard to making messes, destroying walls and furniture and stuff, having loud music, partying, drinking, smoking, etc. Consequently, my RA would give me NO grief about missed mandatory anything. It was live and let live right from the start. To this day I'm sort of amused at how lax all my RA's were about me. They didn't even CARE that I didn't show up to mandatory meetings or socialize with anybody else on the floor, because I gave them absolutely NOTHING to worry about or cope with. I was barely even THERE -- I spent far more time in the 24 hour computer clusters and with my student Christian group to be around the dorm that much.

Anyway, maybe it's not like that at Acadia. Maybe the floor meetings really are mandatory or something, and maybe even important things are discussed (after the first meeting, which usually *is* important, regardless). You'll find out on your own soon enough whether those are actually important or desirable to go to. I hope that if they ARE *truly* necessary, that they're at least worthwhile.