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TOWSON TANTRUM: Living on The First Floor of the Dorm

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Stephanie Hertl Student Contributor, Towson University
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Alexandra Pannoni Student Contributor, Towson University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Towson chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

I’m a sophomore and I’ve grown to like most things at Towson, but there are a few unforgivable exceptions. The people you encounter on any college campus aren’t always the best. Living in a dorm on the first floor has its disadvantages. People from the second and third floor like to take the stairs, instead of waiting for the elevator. This means a constant flow of people from the building are streaming through my hall. Groups of them slowly drag by with voices that seem to congregate right outside my door. Whether it’s a weeknight or 1:30 in the morning, the commotion is incessant. It makes me a bit paranoid. But I have yet to mention the rawest detail of my aggravation. Every-so-often, a group of kids loudly walk by with the most superior of attitudes; like they’re some kind of big shots on campus. For some reason, these people think they can bang or throw things at people’s doors as they walk by. Excuse me, but you are not Jesus Christ. Go do something else that will make you feel macho.
 


I was up one night and jumped because it sounded like someone chucked a metal key at my door. Luckily, I was close enough to swing open the door before the snickering faded. I had caught them in the act. The trick is to open the door with a motive. Transfer your raging energy into the handle so you can hear it. But, don’t lose control or composure with the swing. I stuck most of my body outside the door and leaned into the hallway. I looked in both directions and finally fixed my glare on a group of kids a couple yards away. It was a glare that needed no words; one that was so powerful, they felt it and slowly turned their heads.

You have to commit to the glare or you could look like your saying “you hooligans get off my lawn!” They won’t take you seriously if you look like a Scrooge. Convince yourself you mean business and follow through. Don’t break eye contact and you will make them feel uncomfortable. With the proper confidence, you can convey “Did you throw something at my door?!… Let me repeat myself. DID YOU THROW SOMETHING AT MY DOOR?!” In order to commit to a glare like this, you have to believe you are at least two percent gangster.

It must have worked because they fell into a silent stupor. They looked at me with wide eyes and lost every ounce of swag they thought they had seconds before. I heard one girl mumble under her breath, “oh, crap” and they all hurried away. I think they were equally surprised that I was a girl who opened the door with such confidence. People don’t know how to react when they don’t know what’s coming.

I looked down and laughed because it was a dime they had thrown at my door. But I had had enough. I’m sick of people thinking this school is one big party. Grow up. Never let obnoxious people do obnoxious things. So, cheers to the douchebags. I don’t give up without a fight.  

Alexandra (Ali) Pannoni is a senior at Towson University majoring in journalism with a minor in theatre. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of Her Campus Towson. As the Campus Celebrity columnist for Her Campus Towson, Ali has interviewed Country Music Superstar Chuck Wicks and Major League Baseball Player Casper Wells. In Spring 2012 she was an editorial intern with Baltimore magazine. Currently she is an intern for the nationally syndicated radio morning show, The Kane Show, heard locally on HOT 99.5 in Washington D.C. and Z104.3 in Baltimore.  You can view some of her published work for Baltimore magazine on her website. She loves reading magazines, (attempting) to run, and hanging out with friends and family.