Am I just an ancient out-dated old-timer refusing to let go? No, no it is the kids who have gotten boring.
What happened to Re-O Week? Isn’t it supposed to be second semester’s version of O-Week or is the name just for fun? I'm not saying Mario Kart isn’t neat, or the winter food festival isn’t adequate – they are! But I'm looking for something that doesn’t feel like a school holiday programme planned by the mums on the local PTA. In all honesty the only Re-O event that is remotely exciting is Hybrid Minds, which I would be wrapped about if I were a drum and bass fan. But unfortunately that’s not the case. For sad pop normies like me there’s really not a lot on offer; it’s either Mario Kart or an upgraded version of a night at Suburbia.
What sucks most is all the students that start uni in second semester are just being ignored. They are the students that have come to uni at an unconventional time, that have been on an OE, or those that have simply waited before joining the rest of us on our somewhat harrowing university experience. Do those people not deserve an O-Week that rivals that of the people that begin their journey in first semester? I don’t think I'm alone when I say that the cultural festival, while good, is in no way a substitute for the toga party.
Does no one remember the Illuminate Paint Party, when OUSA dropped four tonnes of paint from the ceiling? It was an annual event; everyone got messy and had a great time. Or even the 2012 Re-Ori, where Ladyhawke, Kora, Chopper Read and Paul Ego all performed. That’s at least four well known performers that appeal to completely different demographics, on top of all the other cultural events held that year. Have we really limited ourselves to one headliner show per Re-Ori?
An article in everyone’s least favourite newspaper (the ODT) has stated that there’s been an effort to migrate activities to not be solely around drinking. Cool, run some hopscotch for the wee ones, but what about the rest of us that only have a one week-long compulsory bender to look forward to per semester?
It's almost like OUSA has forgotten that literally since the dawn of time young people have been boozing, snoozing and having sex in strange places. Let us do our thing. Run big events as well as wholesome easily accessible options. I'm not trying to shit on the current events; I'm just of the opinion that there was no effort made to make this first week of study as exciting as the events of February.
On one hand I'm willing to accept that my views are old, out-dated, and alcoholic, but on the other I can't help but wonder what in the name of fuck I’ve got to look forward to in second semester.
Guess it’s time to get fucked up and go play Mario Kart.