By Rondolf Moreno

Hofstra strikes again with its nonsensical methods. I received a notice last week inside my room (which on its own makes me uncomfortable that people are able to come in and out of my room just because they work for the University) stating that my room is scheduled to be re-painted. Now, if I wasn’t living in the room, then yes, please paint it by all means. But the mere fact that I’m from California with really nowhere else to stay (hence my staying in the University’s dormitories), I’d like it if they didn’t. And with this in mind, I went to speak with Residential Programs (ResProg).

But alas! They couldn’t help me. So I called up the number on the notice to request if they could somehow postpone it. Unsurprisingly, the answer I got from the service desk was “no.” The only way they could postpone painting my room is, if I remember correctly, for medical reasons. So then I rant to the guy, and he understands, but in the end, they can’t do anything for me. He said that this “maintenance” is to make my room “look good” and that it’s done for the students. I then asked why the University doesn’t wait until everyone moves out for the summer to do this. But he said that because of the union and some other things I didn’t understand, that it couldn’t possibly happen. Even though there wouldn’t be anyone to bother and nothing to move around (except the limited furniture), they couldn’t do it all at once during the summer.

But no, the University wants to bother me and disturb my studies to paint my room on a Monday, forcing me to move all my things to the middle or risk some guy moving them for me. And, of course, I have to take the things that make my room look nice off the walls. And I’d have to vacate the room from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. that day, when I only have one class for an hour and spend most of my time studying for engineering classes and completing my ROTC responsibilities in my room. On top of that, I probably would have to study, eat and sleep (I do have a single) in a freshly painted, fume-filled room that’s probably not good for my health anyway. All this and only a medical reason can help me.

But when the painters finally came after a whole weekend of Army training, getting sick and not having enough sleep on Sunday because I couldn’t finish my homework, I threw a small fit. I’m not going to lie about it. I did it because I was angry. Angry that it felt like the University didn’t care about me because I’m just some Joe Schmoe trying to finish college who came from across the country to study at a prestigious university. Angry that whatever I tried to do about it, I was denied and became unmotivated to continue. Angry that all it seems like the University is doing to improve student life is buying several thousand-dollar signs that litter the campus and putting on a façade for the outside world.

So what did the painters do? Surprisingly, they left me alone when I said I didn’t want my room painted. Although, one guy seemed very ticked off stating that “ResLife will deal with me.” So now I have to deal with ResProg? (By the way, ResLife doesn’t really exist anymore, but ResProg does.) Didn’t they say they couldn’t help me? Now I’m thinking, “Oh no, they’re going to fine me.”

Why did I deserve this plight? Who decided that I was a student that needed annoyance in his chaotic life? And, most importantly, who decided that my walls needed a new paint job?!

All I want is peace and privacy in my single. Why else would I have requested a single in the first place?

Rondolf J. Moreno is a senior engineering student and member of Hofstra ROTC. You may e-mail him at [email protected].