A Sea Of Red

Heres the gist - Our dorm RA's were tired of giving the 5-minute grace period, so they announced when the music played, they would be late if not in the section. So a kid is walking to convo, sees the Vines Center clock at the gate say 9:57, and thinks he has time. Around 10 feet from his section (104) the music starts. Upon being told he is late, he ran out to the big screen again and takes a picture of it saying 9:59. He appeals, saying that he would have been there on time had the University given him the right time(whatever) and a bunch of other stuff.

Here is his Peter Parkeresque appeal

The incident reported occurred on Wednesday, February 18, 2009. The hall meeting prior to the incident, RA announced that the 5 minute grace period would not apply to the following convocation, as some on our hall were abusing the system. He used the logic that, if someone were to show up to his workplace five minutes late every day, he would lose his job. He then proceeded to declare that showing up a 10:00 AM would also be considered late, but offered no rationale for his statement. Certainly if you were to show up at the time your workplace mandated you would not receive any type of punishment for "lateness." But alas, Resident Assistants can justify whatever they want simply to exercise their authority, so logic and reason not need apply to the rules they interpret.

On Wednesday, the date in question, I arrived at the Vines Center at 9:58 AM. I can say it was 9:58 AM with preciseness because the jumbo screen above the Gate 1 entrance said 9:58. While walking towards our seating assignment, the music started, signaling Convocation had started. Within fifteen seconds, I approached Jameson to check-in. Upon arriving, he pronounced that I, along with JC, were late to Convocation.

Thoroughly shocked by his announcement, I then ran back outside and took a picture of the jumbo screen, showing that it in fact was 9:59 according to Liberty University standards. That picture is attached to this e-mail, entitled WhatTimeIsIt. After taking my photograph with proof that the Liberty University clock was not at 10:00 AM just yet, I showed RA my photograph, however just as a Resident Assistant would, he just had a blank stare.

He will claim that his clock was synched up to the internet, because his time came from his phone. Even if that were the case, I still propose that I am not "late" in any way, shape or form.

Firstly, the sound of music playing does not prove that I have arrived late. Convocations, as you know, run on a clock on a screen television underneath the two cameramen. This feature allows speakers to know how much time they have left. Speakers are given until 10:57 AM to finish their sermon, so that announcements, prayers, and extended sermons do not interfere with class time. The Convocation Streaming Media Page allows you to see the service I am referring to. Looking at 32:20 through 32:25, you can see that the speaker, Luis Palau, declared that at 32:22 of the video, he had 25:57 seconds remaining before he was finished. We can erase 18 seconds, off of the 32:22, because the service did not start until 18 seconds into the video.

Adding the two numbers gives you 58:04, the length of the service from start to the proposed finish time of the speaker, 10:57 AM. Performing simple MATH 101 tricks will show that convocation started at 9:58:59, a full minute before 10:00 AM, the start of Convocation.

Secondly, I was able to detain the photograph of the jumbo screen AFTER Convocation had already started. This is now the second clock run by the University that declares me to have arrived at 9:59.

Finally, I was inside the venue before the music started. I do not consider this to be a point of reference but instead a personal interjection that should be noted.

I ask you this question: Who is punishing me, RA, OR Liberty University? When fines are designated for reprimands where does the money actually go to? Certainly if I am out of dress code, I do not pay the Resident Assistant who wrote me up. If I am caught kissing a female, do I then give the RA cash? Absolutely not. The University is the ultimate figure of authority and RAs and RDs are simply agents of the University, doing the work the University has required.

In this case I have not one but two sources from the University declaring my non-tardiness, both of them digital. On the other hand you have the word of an agent of the University declaring me late, even though I was in the building before the music began. Although the music started before I checked in, my "tardiness" according to RA's "Satellite Clock" is a direct result of the differences between University Time and RA Time. Had the University Clock had said 9:59, I would have ran to my seat, so that I would be on time. Because I had a minute, and it does not take more than a minute to move from Gate 1 to Section 104, I did not rush to check in with RA.

In the end I hope you will see my side of the story. I have two clocks proving my punctuality according to Liberty University, and as that organization is the source of the reprimand, so should that be the standard of innocence. If I was tardy, it is only the result of misinformation given to me by Liberty University itself.

Seriously, waste of time? HAHAHAHA All for 1 rep and no fine




Retard

thats awesome.

sounds like he is trying to make a point, or either he is one of those never had a rep and won't accept one now people

If this kid puts energy towards good, the sky is the limits for them



Boy Skittles would be REALLY proud of these efforts and actually take this person under her wing...hahaha

absolutely ridiculous. On all sides.

and out of respect for those in authority, I won't comment further.

A great way to start the morning

Skittles...hah!

Schfourteenteen wrote:But alas, Resident Assistants can justify whatever they want simply to exercise their authority, so logic and reason not need apply to the rules they interpret.

That statement there is the reason he will lose. He let his disdain for authority show through right there, and in my opinion, there's no way LU won't take their RA's back. Especially in this day and age of lenient RAs.

Another point is that roughly 8,500 people are all getting into the arena in roughly a 10 minute span.

When I was a student, the class period before ended at 50 past the hour, leaving 10 minutes to get in, you the bathroom if need be, and get situated.

I can see both sides of the argument but there should be more give and take on both sides in this situation.

Sorry, but that RA needs a lesson on public relations. Maybe a blanket party??? I wouldn't put up with that kind of crap.

So, if you have a routine of getting into convo at 9:58 every morning, you're at the mercy of whenever Dave McKinney decides to start as to whether you're late or not?

Sounds lame to me.

Taking shots at the authority, however, really ruined the case.

scuzdriver wrote:Sorry, but that RA needs a lesson on public relations. Maybe a blanket party??? I wouldn't put up with that kind of crap.

now see, that's the kind of thing I was avoiding

scuzdriver wrote:Sorry, but that RA needs a lesson on public relations. Maybe a blanket party??? I wouldn't put up with that kind of crap.

Is a blanket party what I've seen the guy and girls snuggling on the bank these warm days? There's a blanket over top of them with whoever knows what going on under...seems like a party....I've seriously seen this like 10 times in the last 2 days

I think that's a cuddle party.

LUconn wrote:I think that's a cuddle party.

Referencing LU Couples Thread....

This kid has a case but handled it the wrong way. Bringing up that RAs can do whatever they want and the money issue means he will lose it.

PAmedic wrote:

scuzdriver wrote:Sorry, but that RA needs a lesson on public relations. Maybe a blanket party??? I wouldn't put up with that kind of crap.

now see, that's the kind of thing I was avoiding

Don't be afraid! Say what's on your mind. It's always good to offend a few people every now and then.

This reminds me of Tom Coughlin fining players for showing up 5 minutes early for team meetings because he wanted them to show more dedication than just 5 minutes.

Hold My Own wrote:If this kid puts energy towards good, the sky is the limits for them



Boy Skittles would be REALLY proud of these efforts and actually take this person under her wing...hahaha

I actually helped a friend write a (6-page) appeal last year, but it was for a substantial offense/punishment. She was given a $500 fine, 48 hours of community service, and 30 reps for having someone sign her into a class. And her prayer leader was the one that turned her in. When she went to meet the dean to discuss it, I told her to mention taking it to Student Appeals Court, and when she mentioned this to the dean (who will go unnamed) the dean responded with "I will make sure this does NOT go to SAC". Some system we have here.

The punishment she received was equivalent to that given to a student who commits a felony, has an abortion, or uses a weapon against another. The attendance sheet wasn't even a quiz grade, which, according to the Liberty Way, is punishable by fewed than 18 reps and a much less considerable fine.

Just saying.

Skittles comes back on this of all nights.

skittles, loves it <3 wrote:

Hold My Own wrote:If this kid puts energy towards good, the sky is the limits for them



Boy Skittles would be REALLY proud of these efforts and actually take this person under her wing...hahaha

I actually helped a friend write a (6-page) appeal last year, but it was for a substantial offense/punishment. She was given a $500 fine, 48 hours of community service, and 30 reps for having someone sign her into a class. And her prayer leader was the one that turned her in. When she went to meet the dean to discuss it, I told her to mention taking it to Student Appeals Court, and when she mentioned this to the dean (who will go unnamed) the dean responded with "I will make sure this does NOT go to SAC". Some system we have here.

The punishment she received was equivalent to that given to a student who commits a felony, has an abortion, or uses a weapon against another. The attendance sheet wasn't even a quiz grade, which, according to the Liberty Way, is punishable by fewed than 18 reps and a much less considerable fine.

Just saying.

just for that, id have made sure it DID go to the SAC...

matshark wrote:

skittles, loves it <3 wrote:

Hold My Own wrote:If this kid puts energy towards good, the sky is the limits for them



Boy Skittles would be REALLY proud of these efforts and actually take this person under her wing...hahaha

I actually helped a friend write a (6-page) appeal last year, but it was for a substantial offense/punishment. She was given a $500 fine, 48 hours of community service, and 30 reps for having someone sign her into a class. And her prayer leader was the one that turned her in. When she went to meet the dean to discuss it, I told her to mention taking it to Student Appeals Court, and when she mentioned this to the dean (who will go unnamed) the dean responded with "I will make sure this does NOT go to SAC". Some system we have here.

The punishment she received was equivalent to that given to a student who commits a felony, has an abortion, or uses a weapon against another. The attendance sheet wasn't even a quiz grade, which, according to the Liberty Way, is punishable by fewed than 18 reps and a much less considerable fine.

Just saying.

just for that, id have made sure it DID go to the SAC...

As appealling as it may sound, you can't rabbit punch your way into the SAC.

skittles, loves it <3 wrote:

Hold My Own wrote:If this kid puts energy towards good, the sky is the limits for them



Boy Skittles would be REALLY proud of these efforts and actually take this person under her wing...hahaha

I actually helped a friend write a (6-page) appeal last year, but it was for a substantial offense/punishment. She was given a $500 fine, 48 hours of community service, and 30 reps for having someone sign her into a class. And her prayer leader was the one that turned her in. When she went to meet the dean to discuss it, I told her to mention taking it to Student Appeals Court, and when she mentioned this to the dean (who will go unnamed) the dean responded with "I will make sure this does NOT go to SAC". Some system we have here.

The punishment she received was equivalent to that given to a student who commits a felony, has an abortion, or uses a weapon against another. The attendance sheet wasn't even a quiz grade, which, according to the Liberty Way, is punishable by fewed than 18 reps and a much less considerable fine.

Just saying.

Please tell me that she just didn't admit it to her prayer leader in prayer groups, and that her prayer leader was in the class and saw it or something like that.

ATrain wrote:Please tell me that she just didn't admit it to her prayer leader in prayer groups, and that her prayer leader was in the class and saw it or something like that.

Yeah, that would be brutal but similar things have happened before. When I was on campus a big group of guys went to spring break in Florida together including the prayer leaders from my hall. The all drank while down there then when they got back the prayer leaders felt bad and turned themselves and everyone else in. Needless to say, it caused a lot of issues on our hall. Nobody got kicked out but the prayer leaders did lose their positions and everybody got reps and fines.