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HONORS COLLEGE

History of the Shoe Tree

Have you ever wondered about the origins of the shoe tree? So did Bonnie McCubbin, who investigate the origins of the tree as a part of her SMP. You can read her article here or read my summary of her article below.

The Shoe Tree was first recognized in a 1989 article of the point news (meaning I am about as old as the Shoe Tree), referring to the tree as student art. Many opposed the tree, citing that it was tacky and may hurt the tree (definitely true) while others were pro-tree. It was the meatless mondays of yesteryear.

By 1992 new Point News writers had already forgotten about the origins of the tree. Literally 4 years after the Shoe Tree began people had already forgotten its origins. Oral tradition is dead.

During the 90s the tree represented a student art installation piece, but by 1997 the tree was being used for memorable firsts, like first sexual encounter on campus or for graduation. But by 2001 the Shoe Tree had fallen out of favor and few students were throwing shoes in it.

Today of course it is generally seen as a place to throw your shoes after having sex for the first time on campus, and one of the first and last holes on the frisbee golf course.

What does the future hold for the Shoe Tree? It's looking a looked ragged, from all the shoes probably. Is the Shoe Tree something that makes St. Mary's 'unique' or is it tacky? Will it survive the campus rebranding?

Planning on spending Alumni Weekend investigating this piece of SMCM lore. Ask any 45-50 year olds you see~

Alumni Weekend 2k14

Alumni Weekend is approaching! I have compiled a list of things to bring in case you have never attended~

• Bathing suit

Branding

SMCM has revealed its new personal brand~

For years there has been talk of 'moving away from using the rad logo with the sailboats (which is a blatant ripoff of my logo)' and reserving that logo for only official documents and seals. I can see the rationale for this, I think. Most colleges use their name logo and mascot for general branding, rather than the seal of the college. IDK which is better but I hope this does not mean I can no longer buy stuff with the boats seal on it.

WELL here is the new 'branding'

It looks pretty nice! Dropping the yellow definitely makes it easier on the eyes (whatup shawty) but it is also maybe a little bland ???

I do love the whole ~ under the T. I don't understand it but I like it. I don't even know how you could type that out

T
~

???

The facebook page has a new profile picture which is simply

 Not really sure what "ST M" is. Is this a reference to STEM (science technology engineering math)???

IS the college more of a SMCM or SMC kinda person? TBH I like both, not really sure which is better...

Engagement at Gala

wow if u r friends with David "Sush" Sushinsky u would kno that somebody...
just...
proposed at Gala!!! (aka college prom)

below is the PROOF from facebook (also thx ken 4 the shoutout #historyteacherbros)

I mean first of all, shoutout 2 Sush/Sushe for liking his own status

I mean first of all, congratulations to the happy couple, I wish them the best.

but

huh so a "proposal" at gala...college prom

IDK is this legit or tacky ???


Is this akin to proposing to ur gf (GUYS, I SWEAR IM NOT A VIRGIN) or is this a legit thing, via being more mature ???

[editor's note: if you google youtube for 'prom proposal' it's not people proposing at prom, it's people proposing to their significant other to go to prom??? what happened to the "do u wanna pretend to go 2 prom but just get drunk in the limo check yes or no" letter snuck into their locker????]

Is proposing to someone in front of ur 300+ "closest friends" pretty legit or kinda tacky/makes it hard to say no ???

did ppl instagram this? what is the word on the 'yik yak' ???

well either way i hope they wait til marriage!!!

also s/o 2 my favorite SMCM couple, liz and john, so excited 2 c u 2 "tie the knot" (hopefully not a slipknot! via sailing jokes) in less than a month #hopeIcatchthebouquet

SGA 4/22

8:22 - Last SGA meeting of the year. Will miss u SGA, maybe... idk really.

8:23 - Michael Gass and Bongwater are talking… about emergency texts. a lot of schools have this system but SMCM doesn’t.

8:30 - Andrew Wilhelm is thanking Michael Gass and JAG.

8:30 - We’re finally getting this because it’s cheap now.

8:31 - lost and found won’t go out through this system.

8:34 - JAG is talking about food services and laundry now.

8:35 - We can get the Green Bean back but we’d have to get rid of the Pub’s liquor license. People aren’t drinking enough of the Pub. I’ve never drank at the Pub but I like the novelty of telling people that we serve alcohol on campus idk.

8:36 - Laundry next year is going to be really cool. We’re getting clothes bins in the laundry rooms.

8:39 - FREE LAUNDRY ON CAMPUS ALL YEAR ROUND. get excited. it’s nice that we have free laundry during the school year. No one would do laundry if we had to pay.

8:40 - JAG needs input on paint colors.

8:41 -- We’re actually getting new channels of places on campus. (remember this: https://twitter.com/SMCMLOL/status/435964864788307968)

8:42 -- Evan just told JAG to get back on topic.

8:44 -- Some first year just asked what the Green Bean is. I feel old.

8:46 -- Jonathan Holtzman is calling the new coke machine inefficient and a waste of energy. I think Jonathan cares about this coke machine more than anyone else on campus.

8:48 -- they’re putting artwork in the old upper deck area.. what kind of art?!

8:50 -- Staff will be “repurposed”

8:51 -- Shelby Perkins said that being able to buy alcohol at the Pub makes you feel old in a good way.

8:51 -- “Drink with your Professors” monthly event

8:52 -- Heber says that in the ‘70s, the student union had kegs so people wouldn’t have to go to the Door.

8:55 -- Shelby Perkins voted neigh on the talon grant via she’s wearing her house head.

8:57 -- everyone around me is playing games on their computer.

8:57 -- Luke Land wrote a soft serve bill to buy a soft serve machine.

8:59 -- this soft serve machine is fro-yo capable.

9:00 - Luke reminds the senate that soft serve is healthier than hard ice cream altho I seem to remember that it’s merely less caloric???

9:05 -- bill passes.

9:06 -- Evan is excited for soft serve. Going to miss u Evan.

9:08 -- aww Evan will be there for all of us

9:09 -- Fashion report -- horse paraphernalia.

9:18 -- Everyone laughed when Evan asked for Bill Sokolove’s report.

9:19 -- Shelby, Anuli and Evan are planning May Day.

9:20 -- give Andrew Wilhelm your money at World Carnival.

9:27 -- Ms. Paula from Student Activities is retiring.

9:29 -- Bill Sokolove got the perfect attendance award (it's funny because he never goes to SGA)

Going to miss u liveblogging, thank u "Tom Seahawk" for giving me access to the blog and the twitter and the 'brand'.

Natty Boh Hunt Game

Some comp sci majors (nerds) made a fun android game as a part of their SMP.

If you want to play you'll need an android tablet or a PC that can emulate an android device. You can check out their progress on their blog and download the game on dropbox.

Here are the basics:

• You are a student hunting for bohs
• You can only hold 5 bohs, so eventually you need to drink some
• When you drink boh the screen turns. My head still hurts but it was a cool feature
• You can find food and water to remedy the drunkenness
• Watch out for skunks and other students who will steal your beer

I'm really impressed with what these guys created! 

My high score is 2500.

Annapolis Legislative Reception

Wow the Annapolis Legislative Reception! One of the BEST Alumni Events (other than Alumni Weekend, Hawktoberfest, Orioles game). I am a big fan of this event. Last year I met some cool 'senators,' a real life Leslie Knope, and even saw a Mom get her daughter a job. I'm pretty sure that is networking???

First there was Senator Roy Dyson. I was getting a Heineken (s/o to beer my dad likes) when he came in, and immediately came over to join me. We shook hands and I told him a pretty dumb joke and long story short I don't see myself as very good at networking. Later on he gave a speech (pictured below~)

Wow look @ that great posture

So then James P Muldoon (dude who built the River Center with his bare hands and owns the boat DONNYBROOK came over to drink wine with us. He seemed very interested in us but we were pretty focused on getting more free crabcakes.

Man look at that sweet red tie and suit that probably exceeds my paycheck. Yo let us take a closer look at that watch~

WOW EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT A SMALL SECTION OF JAMES P MULDOON'S WATCH huh not really sure what kind of a watch it is but I'm assuming it is one of those Burger King Jurassic Park watches circa 1994

Also he is SO FANCY that he has his initials stitched onto his shirt. Not really sure what the purpose behind this is. Maybe rich dudes have sweet Roman-style orgies and afterwards they want to make sure they put the correct clothes back on ???

Sorry for the blurry image but it says "JPM" which could also stand for JURASSIC PARK MOVIE. It all makes sense now...

And lastly we have a beautiful image of tru love

Larry MacCurtain proposing to someone!!! Wish u the best bb!!!

JUST KIDDING ONE EXTRA PHOTO a great shot of Michelle DiMenna strugglin'

u go girl~!!!

SGA 4/8

8:19 -- Longtime friend of the blog Chip Jackson is here.

8:20 --  Chip Jackson is talking about the tuition decrease. “Bad news” hahahahaa JK.

8:21 -- Out of state tuition will be flat.

8:23 -- New admissions guy Gary Sherman is talking now.

8:24 -- Financial aid will not be decreased as a result of the tuition decrease. All fianancial aid will remain the same.

8:25 -- Tuition decrease was sponsored by Del John Bohanan and Senator Richard Madeleno. Bohanan is the best looking member of the Maryland General Assembly imo and his campaigns generally involve some sort of Natty Boh reference.

8:26 -- There’s no truth that the budget has taken money from the arts and given it to the sciences (via these signs… I saw a comment on Facebook that was an art project and not intentioned to be a factual statement???)

(taken from Elmo Garcia's Facebook)

8:30 -- There are 200 deposited students for the class of 2018 (feel old?? of course you do). This is 59% more than at this time last year.

8:32 -- Joanne Bongwater is here. Talking about renovations.

8:34 -- JAG needs help choosing the colors of the dorms.

8:34 -- They’re expanding the lobbies to make them more inviting.

8:35 -- QA and Dorch are getting air conditioning and all the dorms are getting wifi. “yay”

8:41 -- the dorm bathrooms are getting cubbies. I always thought it was nice and cute when I visited colleges and the bathrooms had these.

8:44 -- Evan forgot the list of the candidates for “Faculty Student Life Award”.

8:45 -- Andrew Wilhelm is working on getting the list.

8:46 -- We tabled a bill to move SGA elections to January or February.. idk why.

8:50  -- Anuli is talking about a bill to change the Programs Board positions, getting rid of the lectures chair, adding a social media chair etc.

8:51 -- Anuli: “as much as it looks like we flawless but”

8:52 -- By-laws amendment passes.

8:53 -- Clay Daneker is getting people to sign his SGA candidate thing in SGA. I feel like there’s something wrong with this but I signed it anyways.

8:53 -- Mary Claire is talking about the budget.

8:59 -- Is this even real money

9:01 -- Budget passed.

9:04 -- Now we’re voting on the faculty-student life award.

9:10 -- Everyone’s just talking about what they know about these professors. Prof Bryd makes his own yogurt and sauerkraut.

9:16 -- We’re struggling with counting.

9:19 -- Anuli is giving the “Shelby Perkins Award” to someone other than Shelby Perkins.

9:20 -- Fashion Report -- “life because I’m still alive (via senior assassins)” and also overalls

9:22 -- Anuli tried to start a clap.

9:26 -- They are no contested elections. Kate Brennan is running for re-election with Jake Wohl. Yi: “Sorry, it’s… not competitive”. Remember democracy???

9:28 -- Andrew Wilhelm has nothing to report.

9:30 -- Luke Land is converting the soft serve resolution into a bill.

9:31 -- Burrito mile is this weekend. Evan will be participating.

Tuition to be Reduced by 8.6%

Wait, seriously? Tuition is going down? By 8.6%?

This is crazy awesome news. The rate reduction only affects in-state students, which I guess sucks for out of state students but it makes sense considering the money is coming from the MD General Assembly.

All of this is due to Chip Jackson, I'm pretty sure. Also Senator Roy Dyson. Roy Dyson is a pretty good senator because he immediately made a beeline towards the bar when he came to the legislative reception. Longtime readers will know of my undying love for Chip Jackson, even though sometimes he thinks my name is Ben.

Look at that handsome devil w/interim prezzy Newbould (also Chip Jackson is there).

Hopefully this signals increased support from the state government. One reason that tuition has gone up at many colleges is because the state support has not increased as quickly as inflation (or at least I am pretty sure this is true ???)