Noros are People Too!

JoeW — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 01:21:00 GMT

In case you are not aware, the Norovirus (Plague) has been taking down Butler’s campus for about a week now. Hundreds of people (Noros) have been infected and because I like to exaggerate and have no loyalty to ‘facts’ I am going to say we are at 1,236 sick students. The Norovirus takes students harshly and without notice. The poor individual then spends the next day/day.5 producing vomit and diarrhea. After that they are healed, but not before passing it on to countless others.

Butler is making efforts to deter the disease. Bottles of disinfectant are absolutely everywhere and I mean everywhere; and tips for healthy Noro-free living have been posted and e-mailed to the student body.

However, what becomes of the victims? What do we do to those who contract the disease? Well, we ignore them. They are contagious and unclean and smell like vomiting. Noros have been put into isolation, quarantine, and shame. At first, I was totally fine with this because it’s true that diarrhea is gross. But today I found out -- my roommate is a Noro. Yes, my friend and brother has the Plague.

It was at this moment that I realized our behaviors were cold and hurtful. Noros are people too, even if they are gross people. So I’m publicly declaring I am Pro-noro and I want to abash some of the filthy rumors and misconceptions about Noros.

-No, you can not get it from sharing a towel, room, or memory with a Noro.
-No, there are not ‘carriers’ who walk unaffected and just mobilize the disease, so you only need to be wary of actual Noros (they are the ones throwing up)
-No, you can not get it just by being in love with a Noro.
(Although, I wouldn’t recommend it. You would fall in love with them because you enjoyed taking care of them and being needed. But then they get you sick. Just when you get sick they will get better and leave you for someone who doesn’t have the Norovirus, a Normo.)

I understand. I am a Pisces so I love taking care of people. But it would break your family apart if you told them you were in love with a Noro. Think of how awkward your winter holiday of choice would be if you brought a Noro home. They would be cramping the whole time and the only gift you could give would be Pepto Bismol.

So, in favor of my Noro friends and brothers I am making a Noro advocacy group on Facebook. The link is below and it is for friends and victims of the Norovirus. Please; we need your help.

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=6223&uid=53308901857#/group.php?gid=53308901857

Give me a Break

JoeW — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 02:59:00 GMT

    Thanksgiving Break is here. I was very much looking forward to it. Not only because of its definite interruption of the daily grind, but also because I have not yet been home this semester.

    For Fall Break I went to my room mate’s house. There is a short and very awkward video of us on our way back already posted. My room mate, JD, is from Decatur, Indiana. In Decatur I went to my first corn field, saw my first Amish individuals, and spent quite a sizable portion of time gawking at how flat and expansive all the land was. It was a really fun and relaxing time. By relaxing I mean that JD and I watched roughly 10 movies in 3 days. JD’s family was very, very hospitable. I ate lots of really good food, and was always comfortable. I even went along to JD’s stepsister’s cousin’s wedding- talk about being in the family! The cake was delicious. Needless to say, I was sad to go and I hope to one day return to Decatur.
There are pictures of Decatur and my segregate family in my photos section.

    For Thanksgiving I am home. My parents have redone our living room- a very typical empty nester move. It looks nice, but I of course miss the old living room- a very typical college student come home move. I am looking forward to the big day and the food that comes with it. My favorite component of a traditional Thanksgiving meal is the stuffin’. Stuffin’ is the same substance that others might call dressing or breading. I spell it with no “g” because that is how I pronounce it and because I am losing my southern scent so rapidly I want to empower the remnants.

    My Family is a Turkey-potatoes-stuffin’-succotash-gravy-rolls family. Succotash is a southern vegetable dish I can’t explain because even I do not understand it. But it takes the place of other families’ green bean casseroles or glazed carrots. We also have sweet potatoes/yams covered with marshmallows; but I don’t include it because I am unaware of which root vegetable we actually use and I just eat the marshmallows anyway. More importantly, however, is the fact that my family always has turkey. It is my opinion- not eating turkey is not celebrating Thanksgiving. I’m not implying that vegetarians are unpatriotic, but I actually am.*

    Thanksgiving is an all around first-class holiday. It offers all of the gathering and eating of Christmas without all the anticipation and anxiety. Not to mention, if none of your family members make you frustrated or upset- you can just go shopping the next day and put a check mark beside those two emotions.

    All around, I believe winter is a time to stay inside and create homemade presents, to eat warm things and tell stories, to read and write and not get a lot else done. Happy Holidays!

*This is satire. I am highlighting the fact that people should not get so hung up on what type of poultry (if any) they serve at Thanksgiving. I don’t think vegetarians are unpatriotic, if anything they are more patriotic and should get to vote twice.**

**This is double satire. I am highlighting the fact that what you eat has nothing to do with you being respected as a person/citizen, unless you like mayonnaise. ***

***No satire, I just don’t like mayonnaise.

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Noros are People Too!

Give me a Break