Response to “Comments show cruel face of online community”

I, like the author of this piece, had an opportunity to witness the despicable side of human nature when a tragedy occurs. As the day progressed Monday, I saw comments ranging from happiness at classes being cancelled to questioning of Brenda’s character. This saddened me, but another side of the story went unseen and unheard by most people outside the science building.
I am a biology graduate student that, essentially, lives in the science building. I am often in the science building or research wing late at night and know most people which frequent the building. When BroncAlert first sent the ambiguous message, “PD at Science building investigating questionable death,” I immediately thought it had to be a fellow researcher. Who else would be there that late at night? I had been in the research wing that Sunday, but had left at around 6 p.m., and tried to remember if I saw anything suspicious when I left. Nothing came to mind.
Within minutes of the alert I had sent several texts to friends, which also frequent the building, to make sure they were okay. I also received several texts from concerned friends. Even old friends, which had graduated already, texted me out of concern when news spread outside campus.
So, while the comments on Facebook showed me which people I will never invite to be my friends, I also learned that we have a great sense of camaraderie in the science building and the good side of human nature also comes out during tragedies.
-Sergio Cepeda

 
Unhelpful Center

How many times does a person have to make a request before someone gets upset?
I enjoy the UTPA Wellness and Sports Complex. It is an awesome complex, and – hey -  it is included in my tuition and fees, so why not take advantage of the facility?
I ask for a handicapped locker, and for the past three visits no one seems to know which lockers are designated handicapped.
The first time, the two young workers were very helpful and apologized for the wait.
The second time, the student workers asked for assistance from a supervisor and couldn’t get an answer.
The THIRD time, I had the same request and got the same response, “I don’t know which lockers are handicapped.” By the time they figured it out, a line of students had formed.
Now, what I haven’t told you is every time I have gone to the gym I have made a suggestion, “Hey, maybe we should put all the handicapped locker keys in a Ziploc bag that way you guys don’t have to look through the sea of keys?”
They just laugh and say, “You know that is a great idea.”
So how many times do I have to go to the gym and make the same request until they take my suggestion to heart?  My point is it is a simple request. What if I was in a wheel chair? Do you think I would be comfortable waiting around while I hold up the line and people stop and stare at me? What if it was your brother, sister or partner how would you feel?  Wellness Center, I am going back at least twice a week, and in case you don’t know, the handicap shower head is broken as well.
-Maricela Ponce (Rehabilitation counseling graduate student)