Humbly stated, I believe myself to have written many an interesting article. Vegans, texting, seminary, Halloween—a diverse host of topics have sparked my journalistic fancy. Bemusing, I therefore find it, that the one article to generate more buzz, grace more Facebook likes (up of 400), and herald more high fives and hearty congratulations in the caf than any other was my article about Stern girls spending time in the Heights Lounge.
Granted, it was in Sandy’s destructive wake, giving the article a unique edge. And, granted, the article was funny and entertaining. But there must be other factors at play. Such success begs inquiry. While I am not a science major, I do appreciate the scientific pursuit to recreate results. While writing is far from a science, isolating the factors that led to this article’s quick ascendancy would prove most helpful. I do not write to promote the article (A Matchmaker Named Sandy—Jewish Week, online and in print)—it seems to have done a fine job promoting itself. I write instead to probe the labyrinth of the human psyche and to question the unique social factors that provided an estuary for the article’s success. With respect to your time, I try to keep my answers to scientific precision and brevity.
Observation: My article was very popular.
Hypotheses:
- Boys like girls. Girls like boys. Girls like to read about boys liking girls. Boys like to read about themselves. And so, the world keeps turning.
- When times are hard, the Jewish community is heartened by the assurance of a Jewish future. CJF trips operate by the same basic principle. Minus the hurricane. Plus building houses in third world countries.
- In times of crisis, people seek lighthearted distraction. (This hypothesis, however, is rather spurious, as lighthearted distraction seems to be sought quite liberally at other times as well (i.e. in class, in the library, in the study halls, in the uptown library etc., etc.))
- It was a prideful “we-are-a-real-University-and-yes-we-DO-know-how-to-intereact-with-the-opposite-gender-I-promise” moment. Unfortunately short-lived.
- People love reading about themselves. Or about people they know. Or about people who know people they know. Holds the same especial thrill as Jewish Geography. You just have to get it to get it.
And now, for your further entertainment, some memorable Stern Sandy Sound Bytes:
10/29 12:00pm: Stern students storm 29th Street cafe’ to stock up on staple foods to survive the upcoming storm: candy, chocolate, Danishes, Eden Wok, and candy.
10/29 17:05pm: Lights go out. Fridges turn off. Stern girls allow their minds to gently transition into a state of latency (where they shall remain for the next week), ensuring that, upon the return to normalcy, they will be lightning bolts of productivity. Glad that panned out.
10/30 13:10pm: A Ms. Rachel Kraut announces to a room full of dispirited Stern women that Carlos and Gabby will be served for dinner. News is met with tribal war cry of glee and ritual dances.
10/30 13:15pm: Kraut tells girls to stop “stealing the glow sticks” that have been placed in dark stairwells to provide light. This is not a Bar Mitzvah DJ Party, dammit. This is a crisis.
10/30 13:15pm: PJ stands in dark room on chair and announces to Stern student-body that he has come to visit because he has heard there is “free lunch.” Reports remain uncertain if he was serious or not.
10/30 13:20pm: PJ reports that boys by-and-large spent hurricane shteiging in the Beis. Girls begin to swoon and faint (due to the heat and stress, naturally). Shortly thereafter, mass exodus uptown to pursue the “electricity” so that they can continue to “study” begins.
10/30 13:45pm: PJ assures there will be “plenty of food for all.” Past precedent engenders doubt and suspicion—frenzied mayhem and dangerous mob ensues.
10/30 13:50pm: Bereft of internet-access, students request newspapers for fear of becoming out of touch with important world events for even a moment. When directed towards Observer stands, they sigh with relief.
10/31 All Day: Procrastinate any/all productive activity.
11/1 All Day: Procrastinate.
11/2: Resign oneself to half-baked vacation.
11/3: Enjoy vacation!
11/4 16:00pm: Load busses back to Stern. And, real life returns with a vengeance.
A story for the grandkids this will be;) Write on.