Jeff Davis | Vent Section Manager

The weather lately has been incredible in the evenings. A great break from the searing, pavement-enhanced heat means I'm going to go outside and do whatever I can to enjoy it. And ever since I've been able to put a helmet on my head and keep my balance, that means taking a leisurely ride on my bike.

My friend "David" and I like to ride together, especially since his dad fixed his rig back up and graciously brought it down to campus. So in the evenings after we're done with classes we don our "brain buckets" and toodle around campus. Maybe once in a while I'll do some acrobatics, but nothing fancy and nothing where people (including myself) could get hurt. He and I are just having fun, meeting people, watching people with their lovers and games of ultimate frisbee, and absorbing the campus that I feel should be recognized for its kind, mature students.

The sad thing is there're always a few dopes straining to be more vocal than the nice students. And for some reason, two regular guys in regular clothes with bike helmets is a great provocation for immature heckling.

David and I were out riding a few nights ago, on such an aforementioned evening. It had been uneventful save for pursuing dogs. David rode past some guy with his girlfriend. David says "hi" to everyone. It's how he is. David said "hi" to this guy, and the guy responds with "faggot." Strange, to say the least. That's my least favorite word. No one deserves to be called one.

We rode past Fairfax Hall and three guys started snickering, pointing and saying things equally offensive as the previous comment. It happened with several more people, including individuals and groups. We got over to Moffett Hall, David dismounted and told me that he was tired of these people being jerk- offs to him. He went home and he wasn't even winded. Being winded is the best part after riding.

What else do these people laugh at? Flowers? Trees? Funerals?

I couldn't see the humor. I really couldn't. I mean, we weren't wearing Tour Du Pont Spandex or anything. We had regular t-shirts, regular shorts and regular shoes. People have laughed at me for having a helmet but to be quite honest, I don't give a damn what my helmet looks like on my head. When I fell off that bridge to the rocks below when I was six while wearing my helmet, I was pretty grateful for that nerdy plastic cap with the dangly straps and silly air vents.

I'll also admit that bikers can get into awkward positions to keep balance on their bikes. But despite these contortions, I'm pretty confident David and I have healthier hearts than those cigarette-smoking people who threw their insults at us like rotten vegetables.

I put up with a lot of crap from people whose bodies grew well into their teens while their minds lagged behind with pacifiers and filthy diapers... in middle school. Now I'm in college and I'm pleased to say that, for the most part, that sentiment has died off. I can't tell you how refreshing it was when that guy from Delta Chi didn't even look at me funny when he invited me to a party and I said I didn't drink. I'm very proud of my fellow students.

But just a few people with nothing better to do with their time than incriminate people doing what gets them through the day can leave a bitter taste in one's mouth. I've grown even past that after careful thinking and praying.

When I learn of people who want to attend this school, I encourage them to do so and one of my main reasons is the people are very kind and very mature. It's disheartening to see the behavior I did that night.

I want to thank the people who have no problem with David and I riding our bikes. You're mature enough to realize how good getting on that bizarre seat and letting our legs take us as far as we can go makes us feel. Some people have basketball, some people have field hockey, some have the stock market and some have Maxim. The list goes on and on. David and I have our bikes. And to the miniscule few of you who'd like to do everything you can to ruin my perception of my fellow students, just... get a life.