Tangents and Tirades

by The Cowl Editor on December 6, 2018


Opinion


Graphic of all the zodiac signs in different colors.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images Plus.

Hot Take: Ice Cream Sundays over Nugget Thursdays

All Providence College students look forward to lunch at Ray on Thursdays, when heaps of chicken nuggets paired with delectable curly fries grace the main station. Although chicken nugget Thursday is the highlight of the week for many, there is another strong contender: hard ice cream Sundays.

Every Sunday night at Ray, a selection of hard ice cream is available for dessert. On all other days of the week, ice cream is limited to soft serve, with the only options being vanilla, chocolate, or swirl.

On hard ice cream night, however, multiple varieties ensure that all students get a taste of their favorites, or maybe try a new flavor. Typical flavors include mint chocolate chip, birthday cake, cookie dough, and similar staples. To be festive, holiday flavors are offered at corresponding points of the year, such as pumpkin in the fall or peppermint at Christmas.

The joy of hard ice cream night is never knowing exactly which flavors are offered; every week features a different variety of delicious ice cream. Chicken nugget Thursday, on the other hand, is the same every single week. Nuggets, curly fries, eat, repeat.

The same meal for lunch every week starts to become old at a certain point. The novelty wears off, and cravings for a sandwich or frustration because of the long lines overcomes the desire for nuggets. The unpredictability of hard ice cream Sunday guarantees enthusiasm every week.

Be sure to remember this underrated tradition and grab a scoop next Sunday.

—Elizabeth McGinn ’21

 

People often roll their eyes when the topic of astrology is brought up in discussion. Critics of astrology ridicule the idea that earthly events and affairs can be influenced by the way celestial bodies in the universe align.

Although there is little scientific evidence that supports the validity of astrology, horoscopes still have a lot to offer.

Horoscopes are a quick source of entertainment that can easily add a little more fun to your day. Even if you do not follow the advice given in your horoscope, it is still amusing to see what it predicts will happen in your future.

The same logic applies to the topic of fortune cookies. After ordering Chinese take-out, people look forward to opening the fortune cookies that typically come along with their meals. Even if they do not believe their fortune is accurate or take any action after reading it to make it come true, people are nonetheless eager to find out what the little piece of paper has to say.

Though it is ill-advised to make any major life decisions solely based on what your horoscopes say, this does not mean that people should be so quick to dismiss them. Horoscopes can help boost your self-confidence and optimism and, in a world where things can often feel out of control, they can offer some sense of order and guidance. As long as they are taken with a grain of salt, horoscopes are relatively harmless and enthusiasts of astrology should not be mocked for joining in on the fun.

—Kelly Wheeler ’21

 

Share Study Space This Finals Season

Finals season is here, which means the stress to find that perfect place to study is more intense than ever. With classrooms occupied for exams and the influx of students in the library, locating the space one needs for reviewing material is often more stressful than the exams themselves.

This competition leads to all sorts of desperate measures. From attempts to reserve rooms to marking them as their own, students at Providence College have thought of it all, except for the impact their actions are having on their fellow students.

For students who are studying in large lecture halls, it is especially frustrating when others come in, claiming they have a study group there and kick others out. These lecture halls are not owned by the students, and commandeering rooms through these methods is extremely disrespectful.

Similarly, attempts to mark a room as one’s own, by leaving their things there, shows a distressing disinterest in recognizing that exams are stressful for all students. This behavior is increasingly concerning when students vacate the room for hours at a time.

Sure, there is a fear that the room  will be snatched from their hands, but that does not give them the liberty to prevent others from using the space in the meantime.

While there is no easy way to eliminate the stress induced by final examinations, we can all do ourselves a favor by sharing the spaces on campus with other students, reducing these worries and helping finals week go much smoother.

—Joshua Chlebowski ’21