The hammocks in the quad are an ill-conceived, black eye for the University’s campus. Of course they are the new fresh thing and seem “cool,” as the SGA president noted in her weekly email address; however the hammocks are nothing more than a tacky attempt to be something that we are not.

Students and alumni alike take great pride in our campus. In fact millions of dollars have been donated throughout the years specifically for the “beautification” of the campus.

And how do we say thank you to the donors? By erecting some of the worst looking objects to hit the quad since that freaky-colored Michael Jackson look-alike statue that use to be in front of the library (may he and the statue rest in peace).

I am so happy that students want to have a place to hang out and relax, which is why the addition of the picnic benches in the quad were perfect.

Can I ask a question?  What is going to happen during the winter months? Is the University going to pull up those six giant wooden stakes? Unlikely.

I highly doubt that the hammocks will do anything more than rot during the winter months. Is there a second phase to this project I am unaware of? Are they going to disguise those six atrocious wooden Lincoln Logs by adding some soup cans and calling it an Andy Warhol exhibit?

What have we really accomplished? We have destroyed the look and feel of the quad so that, at any given time, three to six students can sit in hammocks?

The bottom line is that they should be moved to SLUruba, next to the palm trees and sand volleyball court, where they belong. I mean, come on. Were there really not enough places to kiss on campus that we had to add these bastions of bad taste?

– Jared Walsh is a 2008 graduate and a third-year law student.