Our annual G.A.M.E. and the scarves that accompany it are a beloved Longwood tradition. Less beloved is standing in line for over an hour, particularly for those in the sun or who end up scarfless anyways.
As much as I find the process flawed, I also understand that the process of ordering and distributing scarves is challenging, complex, and time-consuming.
So I’m not going to just sit here and bitch about it, because A) I got a scarf and B) I don’t like to complain without offering solutions. Critical, often judgemental solutions, but solutions nonetheless.
Instead of just whining, I’m going to whine and offer completely unsolicited and likely unqualified advice, with some ways to improve Longwood’s scarf distribution process. My complaints and solutions can be divided into three categories: the bracelet process, supply and demand, and scarf distribution.
The Bracelet
I have a few issues with the current bracelet distribution process, all of which I believe are echoed by many other members of the student body.
With everything being done in one day, it results in a monstrous line that I saw people in Friday morning. The heat wasn’t too bad this year for me (I was in the shade), but last year was hellish and those in the sun this year had it rough.
When I got in line at 2:20 p.m. there were 150 people ahead of me. Note that bracelet give out started at 3:30 p.m. This is insane. And while the line that eventually wrapped from the STU, up Stubbs lawn, around Stubbs and back down Griffin street again may be an intense and in a way beautiful statement on Lancer’s appreciation for their school and scarves, it’s just not the best way to do things.
My first suggestion is have bracelets available for all five days of the first week and my second is to do it indoors. As the G.A.M.E. is the First Friday Back, there’s all week to distribute bracelets and not in the blistering heat..
I can already hear three objections to this one: this will enable fraud, the swarm will simply move to the first day of distributions and that people won’t wear bracelets for five days. I have solutions to these concerns.
First, have people scan their LancerCards and index the numbers that have been used. If the number’s been used, have it reject it. The second problem can be addressed by only giving out a fifth of the available bracelets each day.
My third recommendation, which also solves the issue of wearing a paper bracelet for five days is to give them out for people to put on themselves. Sure, somebody could give theirs away, but it’s no different than giving a scarf away directly. This would also allow people to decide how much room they want on their wrist, which I feel like college students are capable of figuring it out.
Supply and Demand
I know we had a big freshman class, but so did the people ordering scarves. I will admit to having no idea how many were ordered and how many people ended up scarfless after waiting in the monster line. I don’t know if this has ever happened before, but of course I still have suggestions on it.
Remember that it’s better to have leftovers than run out. I’m sure that extras could be auctioned off, raffled off or given away to students, parents or alumni.
Give away extras publicly. Have some sort of leftover scarf event that hypes it up even further.
Use demographic data to calculate how many scarves will be necessary. Obviously noteveryonewants one, and there have to be statistical correlations to explain who wants and who doesn’t. Specifically, classes may correlate to a desire or lack thereof. Use the collective data on who got scarves acquired from using Lancercards to predict future demands.
Allow online reservations for scarves (linked to Lancercards and student IDS) to further reduce the load on the line.
Scarf Distribution
We should have a formal line for the scarves instead of the horde rushing the booths all at once. It’d be more organized and thus quicker.
Adding on to that, we need to create multiple aisles. We already have multiple tables, but multiple organized aisles would be the more efficient, less panicky version of it.
In line, give us more giveaways and action in line when the scarves are being given away. This will bring down impatience.
I understand that all these things may not be practical to implement, and I really get that it’s a complicated and laborious process to handle the scarves, but I do think that some reform in the process would be to the good of the collective Longwood community.
A commotion during the pep rally prior to the distribution of Longwood scarves in front of Stubbs Lawn.
A Longwood student held out his scarf during the G.A.M.E. at Lancer Field on Friday, Aug. 25.
