Surviving the BC Plague, as told by freshmen
‘I probably got it from the Newton Bus’
The past few weeks, an ominous beast has been taking students out one by one: the BC Plague.
Whether the Plague is a cold, a flu, or a mutant combo of both, is hard to tell – but the fear and reactions that it evokes in BC students is universal.
Freshman year is already tough – you’re trying to figure out how to tailgate without getting written up, find a good study spot, and apply to 47,000 service organizations. Now you have to do that with the addition of a lovely, constant nasal drip.
Hanna Pittock, Elementary Education and Sierra Acosta, Political Science
Sierra: “I have one packet of Emergen-ccccc. The word emergency already has a “C” in it so if you’re gonna say it, you might as well say Emergen-ccccc so people know you’re not in trouble… Does that make any sense?”
Hanna: “My advice is to wash your hands constantly and bring Purell everywhere. Also, bring a lot of Emergency, but I’m not a crazy person, so I don’t say Emergen-ccccc.
“It was uncomfortable being sick. I had to bring a box of Kleenex to class and it was weird blowing my nose in front of other people I had just met. I would recommend going to the University Health Center. They gave me free medicine. The nurse said I wouldn’t survive in the winter because I was freezing and it was 50 degrees outside.” (Oh Californians…)
Sierra chimes in: “Free drugs!!!”
Skyler Graves, Psychology (Premed) from San Francisco, CA
“I haven’t gotten it yet. I would say wash your hands. That’s a big one. Don’t touch your face. If you touch the doorknob and then you touch your face, you’re going to get something. It might not be the Plague, but it’ll be something. Or, just snort a line of Wasabi.”
Sarah Booth, Undeclared in MCAS
“I had the Plague. The fourth day was the worst. Lots of medication. I probably got it from the Newton Bus. I don’t really remember it. The hygiene in our bathroom also made me sick, though that might be completely unrelated.”
Tom Barsch, Psychology
“I didn’t have the Plague, but I did absolutely nothing to prevent myself from getting it. I didn’t get the flu shot. When I wake up, I shower, and I immediately brush my teeth. Twice. Devlin 008 is the breeding ground for the Plague. I’ll be there tomorrow, but I’m pretty confident that I won’t get it. The kids who don’t get it are the really dirty ones, or the ones who take every precaution. I’m the first kind of kid.”
Alexander K. Turney, Philosophy and Economics
“The Plague was Easy Street. I think I got it from my girlfriend at the time. I took DayQuil. I take Advil all the time anyway. No meds is the Gandhi approach. Your body also has to be like ‘We got this.’ Don’t talk or interact with anyone. Maybe wear a mask.”