Previously on “War On Matriculation Eve”… “Not
only that the BS are into Lesbianism and prostitution. Their members keep
pictures with the receptionists of big hostel in town. The pictures bear code
numbers and telephone numbers with which the customer can use in arranging a
deal. Sometimes they act as ushers or protocol in big ceremonies but the bottom
line is sex for sale. So, Sandra my dear, he careful with her”.
Day 3 Story
Moreover some
lecturers never tolerated latecomers. Sometimes lectures would stretch to 3 or
4 in the evening and there would be no time for lunch. It was usually 1-0-1 formula,
sometimes 0-0-1.
The excitement of the
rush was gradually dying down. Everyone was settling down to the routine flow
of curricular and extra-curricular activities. At the open space in front of
the library, students usually gathered to chat. Many spent time there just waiting
for their lecture periods or lecturers. Some just loitered making new friends;
it was also atmosphere for miracles as some campus evangelists claimed. It was
a place to get the real feel of campus life. Sandra loved to mingle with the
students there. It made her belong; it was a good feeling to belong....Continue
As she sat waiting for
her friend Harmony to finish her lecturers. Sandra’s eyes roved around. She saw
all sorts of fashion wears: some girls seemed to be competing with one another
to show who would expose the most secret places on a woman’s body. Some girls
had their breast exposed to the extent that the nipples were the only anchor for
their half blouse. Some trousers were so skin tight that the contours of the pubic
areas were clearly defined, the buttocks dancing like two warring autonomous
communities. Some had their bellies open showing the navels; some belly buttons
were sunken, others protruding like giant carbuncles.
What about the boys;
they had one thing in common. Their long sleeves shirts were always unbuttoned
especially at the sleeves. Some wore three to four shirts at the same time. Sandra
wondered how they withstood the heat. With their face caps, dark glasses and
canvass shoes, there was no difference between them and Okada riders. It was
fun all the same and life goes on in Campus.
Harmony came out of
the lecture hall looking tried. “Sandra please hold my books, I am dead
beat. The lecturer didn’t want to go” As they left, a voice called
Sandra. It was Lizzy hurrying towards them.
“Wait for me, I am
going home too” the friends chatted as they went back
to the hostel, off campus.
At the roundabout
opposite the main gate, Sandra noticed Bro Joe and sister Amaka carrying shoulder
strap public address system, preaching the gospel to students returning to
secure seats for evening classes.
“Harmony, have you noticed
these two preachers?” Sandra asked
“Yes now, they are
always here morning and night preaching”. Harmony replied. “I wonder when they
have time to read”.
Lizzy laughed. “Listen
Sandra and you too, Harmony; see these two referring to something in their
textbook even as they are walking? They are Lemmy and Chika. They are called
triangular students. Look in front near joint, yes, those guys and babes drinking
and dancing and smooching: they are NAS non-academic students”.
“NAS, yes, I know
about that but which one is a triangular student or triangle student?”
“Let me explain, I see
you need some lectures on Campus life,” said Lizzy as
they walked home.
“There are different
types of characters, different world views, different mind-sets and different
groups of students. Let me start with triangular students. It doesn’t mean they
are geometric structures but rather the name depicts their mind-set about
academics. That is, from hostel to library to classroom, back to hostel. No games,
no clubs, no fun. For this group, the Wednesday afternoon games and other
extra-curricular activities are not important. Their own is read, read and read
again whether in the hostel, library, café or classroom. Lemuel and Chika
belong to this group. Chika is a powerful marketer while Lemuel is Elect Elect;
they often struggle for front seats in their combined GNS courses and from
there, they became friends and reading mates”.
“But is it not good
to read so hard?” Sandra asked.
“No that is academic
with tears, not academics with fun. It means passing through campus without
campus passing through you. Later in society you may become a misfit”.
Lizzy explained.
“Anyway, there are
also two sets of campus evangelists. One group professes Born Again Ministry
with fanatical zeal which takes precedence to every other activity curricular
or extra-curricular. They become itinerant campus preachers, moving from one
lecture hall to the other where lecturers have not yet arrived, preaching the
gospel. When the lecturer arrives, they move out to the roundabout. The second
group, combine preaching the gospel with academic work. But the others are so
zealous they become full time evangelists to the detriment of their academic
work”.
As Bro. Joe says: “What
shall it profit a student if he gathers all A’s, and record carryover in the kingdom
of God?” Sister Amaka agrees with Bro. Joe and follows his evangelical footsteps
with equal zeal. But there are those who believe that combining both is a better
approach; since the bible says that faith without work is a lost venture.
“There are also those
we call ‘the happening students’- EBEANO. This is the main stream of the
students. From this group emerges Students’ Union leaders and activists, Ist
class, Distinction and average IQ groups. They are more realistic because they
recognized that their primary objective is to get education as a stepping stone
to future endeavours in the society.
To be continued
tomorrow
Credit: Nnamdi
Anumihe (Ph.D)
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