Study Hall -- Wednesday, September 28th

[principalconnor.livejournal.com]

Welcome to Wednesday's study hall. I'm in a considerably better mood than yesterday, which mostly means none of you will be getting set on fire today. I reserve the right to threaten you with it, though. You have no fucking idea how entertaining the looks on your faces are when I do that.

*grins wickedly and takes a drag off her cigarette*

The announcements for today --

-- Biff is missing once again from the front of the teachers lounge. If somebody could find that stupid goddamn bear and drag it back, I'd appreciate it. (I won't be rettaching any limbs you might lose, though. That's your fucking problem, not mine.)

-- After the events of last weekend, I'm thinking of lifting the weapons ban. I'll be opening up a discussion section in the comments for those opposed and those for the weapons ban to hash out any differences they might have, any requests they might have for licensing or policing those who wish to carry their weapons, and any other problems they might wish to discuss.

-- Parents Weekend will take place on October 28th, 29th, and 30th. For the record, you may make one new RPG journal for whichever parent, guardian, relation, or mortal enemy you might wish to bring in for your character. These characters cannot already be enrolled in the school or exist in town, and if you can find someone not already involved in the game to play them just for that weekend, all the better. However, these characters will not be allowed posting access on FH or any related communities, they will only be allowed to comment in designated threads -- open houses for classes, the Halloween dance, etc. They're only here to visit for one weekend, folks -- they won't be hanging in the dorms or taking classes or anything. Also, teachers will be allowed to call parent/teacher conferences with any of their students they might wish to meet with (or any "parent" they might wish to interview ... *snerk*).

(OOC: Also, for the record, I'm not playing John Connor anymore -- I've passed him off to someone else. Now he can get a little more play, the poor antisocial bastard. :))

Comments

Weapons Ban

[principalconnor.livejournal.com]

Well, go on, you little punks. Argue and complain all you want.

Re: Weapons Ban

[cameronmitchell.livejournal.com]

I think it might be a good idea to let students get a license in order to be allowed to carry weapons. Maybe this can be done with the help of the Gun club. Just letting anyone have a weapons is probably a stupid idea, but the zombie attack has proven that we are capable of brandishing weapons without killing each other and that it might even be necessary. So forcing the students to first take a test to proof that they can handle a weapon responsibly and forcing anyone who wants to hold it with him to register might be a good compromise.

Re: Weapons Ban

[12parseckessel.livejournal.com]

Lifting the ban would make a lot of us a lot more comfortable. I'm not the only one feeling naked wearing just an empty holster.

not to mention the bad luck I'm in for over my knife

Re: Weapons Ban

[jerusalem-s.livejournal.com]

If weapons are reinstated, I want a list - for use in any eventual murder proceedings - of who has what.

Re: Weapons Ban

[names-ash.livejournal.com]

I'm willing to set up a certification and licensing program, atleast when it comes to firearms. That way we can atleast test to make sure the kids who have guns know how to take care of 'em good and proper.

Re: Weapons Ban

[medusae-x.livejournal.com]

"With the sheer amount of underage drinking that goes on around here, we think it's a bad idea. The weapons locker was opened up during the zombie attack, and that worked well. It would've worked a lot better and a lot more efficiently if we had a warning system, as Alanna is campaigning for in her Student Council platform. Those of us with the innate ability to harm others have been required to take measures to ensure that we don't hurt our fellow students or teachers even by accident, and we feel it would be extremely unfair if other students were allowed to have their weapons ready to hand while we are required to peace-bond ours."

She shrugs. "Frankly, until a better definition of 'weapon' and a better list of the rules and regulations for weapons exists, we think it would be a very bad idea to lift the weapons ban."

Re: Weapons Ban

[sharon-valerii.livejournal.com]

*blinks* If guns and knives are being banned and/or requiring registration, why not things like mutant powers and magical abilities and wands? They can all be used to harm others.

Re: Weapons Ban

[valentine-tart.livejournal.com]

Very simply, it's this.

We're here in a school with people who can kill us with their eyes, their minds, magic, whatever. They keep their weapons because they can't be separated from them.

I've had at least one weapon on my body at all times since I was ten. I'd have died more times than I care to count if I hadn't. I'm not me without a weapon anymore. And I'm probably more dangerous if I don't have something to protect myself.

Fear is the most dangerous weapon. Not arming us won't stop people like me from making threats if we're cornered and those threats could get us killed.

More than that. We proved that we can work together during the zombie attack. We showed that we can use our weapons responsibly. I would offer that the Colorado gang, and some of the bad-world types like myself, might be willing to engage in peer-group discussion about responsible use of weaponry. Dr. Daniel Jackson has agreed to be the advisor to those of us who wish to be armed, and you know he's one of the most gentle people around.

Re: Weapons Ban

[positive-angel.livejournal.com]

I think responsible weapons registration is a good idea. I think that it also should go for cutting and bludgeoning weapons too.

Magical abilities notification is also a good idea.

Something I want to bring up, though, that bothers me. To my knowledge, the magical users have not made it a habit to flaunt their magic in the face of student and staff. Not to the extent I've seen and heard the gun/weapons people have.

While it can be argued the magic users pose a more dangerous threat because their 'weapons' can't be 'peace bonded' or taken away, I haven't felt near the fear of their 'weapons' going off because they felt the need to wave it in someone's face in a drunken bragging session.

The weapons ban wouldn't even be an issue if people had been handling them responsibily in the first place. Pulling a gun on another person is just irresponsible. Feeling the need to arm yourself against your fellow student or teacher is just boggling. Is this a high school or a school for juvenile delinquents? But some need their guns to feel better so, what can be done?

Perhaps less complaining about weapons and more emphasis on individual responsibility - as a student, as a teacher, as a staff member - would be in order.

That said, I like the accountability measures being discussed because it does demonstrate that even if I don't understand this need to arm ourselves against each other. THAT is where my distrust of all this lay.

Imagine how all of this sounds to those of us who don't have offensive magic spells and who don't want or need weapons and just how uneasy it makes us to hear bravado spouted about prying weapons from dead fingers.

-And all this from a student who's only magical abilities involve healing and flying and doesn't own a weapon to speak of.

Re: Weapons Ban

[actingltcrumpet.livejournal.com]

Archie stands, clears his throat, and by force of habit takes his hat off. He turns it absently in his hands as he speaks, hesitantly but clearly.

“Ma’am, I would respectfully suggest that the concern of those in favor of the weapons ban may be partially misdirected. I understand that there is a certain fear of students violently turning on each other, but if I may say so, this concern is relatively minor. We all know that this school is . . . unusual. Strange things happen: I point to locker 327 as an example. As another example, it’s my understanding that Edward Elric opened what appeared to be a closet door in the common room and found himself in a desert; who knows how soon it will be before another student is inadvertently displaced, and whether or not the situation is less benign? And I don’t feel I need to point out the weekend’s events. Therefore, I respectfully submit that, by and large, what we wish to defend ourselves against is the more dangerous aspects of the school’s capricious nature -- not each other.”

He pauses and takes a long, slow breath, then begins to pace back and forth in front of his desk. “I have lived the past few years of my life in close quarters with many other men in conditions that are far from luxurious, in situations that would try the patience of a saint. If anyone is likely to lose their temper and lash out at his fellows, it would be in that situation. Our straits are nowhere near so dire here.”

Agitatedly, he twists his hat in his hands, quite unconscious of the damage he’s doing to it; he stares down at his feet as if collecting himself, then draws another breath and looks up at Principal Connor. His face is flushed and he is trembling, though it’s barely perceptible. “I’ve seen what happens when one man chooses to unleash the maliciousness of his nature on his fellows. I have been the victim of it many times. It may seem odd that among so many able-bodied men, one might be allowed to exercise ill will so freely on the rest, but madam and fellow students, this is what happens when we allow fear to keep us from taking a stand. We were all terrified of being punished further for it, and our captain was not a man who commanded authority. I don’t think that the latter is the case here.

“My suggestion is this: we establish neutral parties to whom we can report situations of feeling threatened without fear of retribution. How matters would be dealt with from that point on I’m not sure, but it would be worth putting on the table so that everyone is comfortable with the proceedings. I agree with those who have emphasized the need for clear accountability measures; should any one student demonstrate an inability to behave responsibly with a weapon, let actions be taken against that one student individually. Further, we make sure that for all of our students who are not versed in martial skill and wish to learn, the options are available for them, as it’s only fair. I would even go so far as to suggest that those of us with weapons skill volunteer to teach them; it would demonstrate that we can be trusted with our weapons, as well as build their confidence.”

[river-dancing.livejournal.com]

River comes in and grabs a seat off to one side. She's got a container of orange juice with her, and seems to be in a surprisingly good mood. That might, of course, have something to do with the hickey not-quite-concealed at her neckline.

[iwasawesome.livejournal.com]

From her seat across the room, Lilly winks at River. Her low-cut shirt practically displays her hickey for all to see.

[medusae-x.livejournal.com]

Duce slides into Study Hall since her Paranormal Studies teacher is still missing, and Professor Jerusalem appears to be sleeping off a hangover across his desk. She wasn't sure what his cat had eaten, but the methane levels of that room were positively toxic. Granted, she wasn't sure it was the cat, but since Spider would blame the cat anyway, she figured she'd go ahead and mentally readjust her thinking to blame the poor moggy right from the get-go.

A book is excavated from her knapsack and opened. She stares at it, but from the idle manner in which she was flipping the pages and the obviously distracted expression of thought on her face, it could be assumed she wasn't actually reading it.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_gottahavefaith/]

Faith walks into study hall in a much better mood than yesterday. She's also got a notebook, which is a first. Sitting down at her desk, she opens it and starts planning her 'fundraiser'.

[12parseckessel.livejournal.com]

*signs in and sits down with a travel mug of kaf and a couple of books*



[[ooc: my guardian is already an NPC townie. Shops at the Kwik-Stop etc. I hadn't planned to make a journal, as he doesn't speak Basic. I figured he could just loom.]]

[oatmanspatient.livejournal.com]

Marty walks into study hall in a foul mood. He sits down a table and proceeds to work on his criminology homework.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory notices Marty, and pitches a note his way.

Want some coffee? (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandomhigh/151117.html?thread=5849933#t5849933) You don't have to give an endorsement for it. I just think you look like you could use a cup. Though if you wanted to just endorse everyone but Alanna I think that'd be okay.

[demonbelthazor]

Belthazor wandered into study hall. He hadn't seen Phoebe in any classes the day before and there was no sign of her here, either. He couldn't help but wonder where she was. He kept an eye out for her roommates to see if he get get any info out of them. Piper certainly wouldn't be helpful. Worrying was stupid, though. He should be busy plotting mayhem or something. Right.

[notstakedyet.livejournal.com]

Angelus wandered in. He spotted Bel and aimed in his direction.

"This seat taken?"

[pure-blooddraco.livejournal.com]

Draco comes in carrying a letter. He makes himself open by sitting in the middle of the room in case anyone wants to talk to him about the campaign. The letter he has is from his mother informing him that yes, either she or Aunt Bellatrix will be coming for parents weekend. It depended on which one the Dark Lord could do without for the weekend. "Gods help this school if Aunt Bella comes here." he thinks


OOC: I haven't decided which one I would play better. Or if anyone would like to be one of them feel free to let me know.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory walks in, her arms full with a huge tray of coffee cups.

She sets them down at a table, and puts up a sign that declares:

FREE COFFEE
Endorse the Hottest Ticket in Town
Phoebe Halliwell
Liz Weir
Beka Valentine
Rory Gilmore
Anya Jenkins
And Elizabeth Swann

After adjusting the sign perfectly, she settles behind the table, taking a sip from her own significantly-larger cup.

If she looks a little pale, or there seem to be bags under her eyes, one might assume that she didn't sleep well. In any case, Rory realizes that personal problems and sleep deprivation aside, she needs to concentrate on her campaign.

[oatmanspatient.livejournal.com]

Marty picks up a cup of coffee and makes a donation to the campaign.

[OOC: What about Alanna?]

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John slips into study hall and starts doodling. He can't help but pay attention to the weapons ban discussion.

[alchemic-bean.livejournal.com]

*wanders in to study hall*

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

*notices Edward*

Oh, hey, I saw the flower arrangement Jean left for you this morning. Pretty nice. Gotta be payback for the STD note, huh?

[mparkerceo.livejournal.com]

*Parker walks over to Rory's Booth (aboe) and frantically adds "AND ALANNA TREBOND" onto the end of the poster-- no sense making the same mistake twice!*

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

Hey.

*winks*

Didn't know you'd be around.

[lizzy-turner.livejournal.com]

*Elizabeth scopes out the study hall from Rory's campaign table. She was very much looking forward to running, but there was one thing that was on her mind much more. She had barely two weeks, probably even less, to come up with a Homecoming date*

[master-of-fear.livejournal.com]

*Jonathan stumbles in, mumbles something inaudible, and proceeds to fall asleep at a desk in study hall*

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

Rory notices Jonathan sleeping, and is immediately jealous. She blinks a few times to clear her head a little, and walks over to his desk. She gently sets a brimming cup of coffee down by his head, with a note attached, reading:

Compliments of the Hottest Ticket in Town.

[sheldonjsands.livejournal.com]

*comes in, pokes his cane at his usual seat to ascertain if it's occupied*

*looks almost cheerful, which is most unusual*

[persian-eunuch.livejournal.com]

*comes in* *plans to stay most of the day without any classes to speak of*