Clap

The end of the semester is here. Classrooms that had remained only halfway full through the middle of the semester are now full again like in the first week of class. It seems like the Daily Universe was saving several good letters to the editor for today, knowing it would be the last day to run anything controversial before everyone goes home for the holidays. Today's topics included a recent convert that was thanking BYU for confirming that mormonism wasn't technically a christian religion, someone complaining about the University's efforts and tactics in lowering student traffic related fatalities during the holidays and another person critisizing BYU for "worshiping" Gordon B. Hinkley by naming the new building after him before he passes away. Because we would never want to pay tribute to any of the brethern while they were alive after all.

But the most interresting thing about the end of the semester is the "Last Day of Class Applause." I don't qute understand this tradition's roots, and I am curuious if it occurs at other Universities. My only other experience with post-high school education wasn't at a university, it was at Utah Valley State College for a semester prior to my mission. I don't remember anything like this happening there, but I was only there for a semester, and nobody liked any of my professors, so that could have played a factor. My first class at BYU was a biology class during a Spring semester, and I sat there confussed with my deer in the headlights look as everyone around me dropped everything and applauded Dr. Robertson right after he bore his testimony.....this was something new to me.

Today I was thrown back into that same place as right as my New Testiment teacher had finished sharing his testimony with us, and right after we said "amen" the class burst into a thunderous applause. Is this going to be on the final? Will I be docked for not applauding? Is a bousterous applause college's equivillance to Elementary School's red apple? Is this a nationwide thing? What do they do at Gallaudet University? Doesn't it make more sense to applaud at the beginning of the semester rather than the end? By now there is probably little to be done to effect grades one way or another in most of these classes, so trying to gain your professor's favor is basically useless. Shouldn't applause be saved for someplace like a football game....? or....

Maybe next semester I'll incorperate more sporting spectator actions to gain the respect and love of my professor throughout the semester. Here's a list of things I could do:

1. Giant sign that reads: "Dr. Smith 3:16"
2. Giant foam finger
3. Sell popcorn, peanuts, and beer
4. Boo and Cheer and heckle other student's comments
5. Hire cheerleaders
6. Find out my professor's favorite colors and paint my face accordingly
7. Get a group of guys to paint letters on their bellies spelling out the professor's last name
8. Hold up a sign that encorperates the topic of the class using the letters ESPN, ABC, NBC, or CBS.
9. Heckle the TA with things like, "Are you blind?!? How did I not congigate that verb!!!"
10. On the last day of class, give the professor the traditional "Gatorate Bath"

I figure if professors like the applause on the last day, they'll love these antics.... my GPA should soar!!!