Second-Class Citizen

Here is the letter I wrote to the University:

To Whom it May Concern:

I am a UofC alum '06 writing to express my extreme displeasure at
being denied access to the 24-hour study space at Crerar this evening.
Intending to work on some more UK graduate school applications, I
tried to get in by swiping in using my Alumni card, and when it didn't
work, the woman at the desk told me that alumni weren't allowed in
anymore. When I muttered, "thanks a lot," she brightly chirped,
"You're welcome!" People who don't understand sarcasm must be lucky.

Last quarter I was allowed access to the 24-hour study space, and that
was the only way I was able to finish my US graduate school
applications on time. I paid for my library privileges again this
quarter, thinking that I would have the same access privileges. I
think it's pretty rotten alumni are now denied access; at the very
least, I would have appreciated being notified of this change before I
tried to get into Crerar at 1 am this morning. I generally don't
stroll around Hyde Park by myself at that hour unless I think I have a
safe place to sit and study.

Is there any specific reason why I can't use the study space? Is
there a concern that UofC alumni are now homeless, and trying to use
it as a warm place to sleep? Do you think we're trying to take
resources away from students? I've always paid for my printing when I
was at Crerar. How does my presence hurt? A lot of 2006 alumni are
in the midst of the graduate school application process, but our
full-time jobs prevent us from using the library during the day--why
does the University want to undermine our chances of future success?

Let me reiterate that I am an '06 alum that has paid for library
privileges for two quarters now, and I contributed to the senior class
gift. I was going to make an alumni donation (despite the fact that
I've gotten several requests for money but NO emails asking if I have
found a job), but now I'm reconsidering. I keep getting hounded by
this University for money, but even when I do pay to use University
services, I am often disappointed with the return.

As I've said before, I'm supremely irritated by this situation, and I
would appreciate a response on this matter. If I'm addressing the
wrong people, please forward this message to the appropriate parties.
Thank you.

If you have any ideas of who I should forward this message to, let me know. Toodles.

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Being Sick Sucks

I had to go home from work several hours early on Saturday, because I felt like crap. Later that day, I had a catastrophic blow-up with the man I'm dating (that's another tie-in to my story on 'forgiveness'), and then the next day I was up at 6 am to go back to work. The worst part about getting paid by the hour is that you feel compelled to show up even when you really shouldn't, and you never really get time to recover. One of my co-workers was telling me "go home!", and normally I would take that as friendly, good-natured advice, but for the fact that I know she wouldn't be able to make up the difference in my next paycheck.

I hear it's supposed to snow like a mofo tonight, and feel like minus fifteen with the windchill tomorrow. God, will this stop? Between the weather, my horrible cold, my niggling fears that I've blown it with my boyf, and my anxiety over the UK apps, I really need a vacation. A paid one, of course.

Peace.

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Forgiveness

So, for all two of you that read my blog, a question:

Do you believe that there is such a thing as forgiveness, and if so, what does it entail?

If you have any ideas, please let me know.

A longer post on this subject to follow.

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