Blame it on the rain

By Allison Freeman
Collegian Staff
November 15, 2006

There I am, perched on the edge of my bed, staring out the window at the rain pelting against the glass. I weigh my options.

Option A: crawl back under the covers and sleep the rest of the day away. Or, Option B: channel my inner (Weather Channel meteorologist) Jim Cantore and get suited up to venture out into the elements.

My adventurous side wins, and I decide to brave the tsunami-like downpour. This is where I should have quit.

The wind-driven raindrops that felt like darts should have been my first clue. The fact that I needed a boat to get out of North Dorms should have been the second. But did I listen? No. Instead, I left my warm, dry dorm room to experience La Salle in the rain, and it was not pretty. But this soggy experience left me with some wisdom that I won’t soon forget.

Weather is tricky and takes no prisoners. The name of the game is rain, and the only way to win is to navigate wisely. Here are some tips to make sure you don’t end up in the gutter:

1) Watch out for standing water. Storm drains are few and far between on campus, and one wrong step could cost you. One word of warning: don’t try to jump that puddle on the corner of 20th and Olney—it’s deeper than it looks. Miss the sidewalk and get ready to watch your shoe float away, along with your self-esteem.

2) Avoid hills. Now that the leaves have begun to fall, this is more pertinent than ever. All it takes is one pesky leaf to ruin your day and your favorite pair of jeans. However, if you do fall, smile and laugh it off like you meant to make a complete fool of yourself. Give a little victory wave to the bystanders who are watching with mixed expressions of amusement and horror. Also, do yourself a favor by picking off the wet leaves that are now plastered to your behind. And “say cheese” because your embarrassing moment has been captured on many a camera phone. Hope you were ready for your close up.

3) Pack the umbrella. This may seem like a no-brainer, but I made the mistake of leaving without it and had to face the consequences. I found out the hard way that the wet-bangs-pasted-to-the-forehead-and-the-jeans-stuck-to-thighs look wasn’t all that attractive on me.

Something else to remember: linoleum and wet sneakers don’t mix well. Climbing the Wister stairs with damp shoes is basically a death wish. Save yourself a trip to the emergency room and hold onto all banisters and pay attention to “wet floor” signs. They’re there for a reason.

All these pesky precipitation problems make it nearly impossible to get anywhere. How are we students expected to deal? Who or what will save us from this damp dilemma? The answer comes in the form of a big, white, friendly van. This savior of a vehicle known as the shuttle comes like a noble steed through the rain to rescue the soggy college student. Its appearance on the horizon stirs joy within the hearts of wet students everywhere as it begins its decent down Olney Avenue.

It comes closer and closer when…hey, wait a minute. Why isn’t it slowing down? “No! No, stop!” you scream as the van passes by. It is then you see the logo on the door that reads “hospital transport” not “La Salle University Shuttle Bus.”

Which brings me to my fourth and final point –

4) Don’t rely on the shuttle. It’s notorious for being late, and rainy days are no exception. Save yourself the hassle and slide into a pair of boots and hoof it instead. Give yourself a chance to experience La Salle in all its drizzly goodness, and enjoy the forecast—rain or shine.

freemana1@lasalle.edu