Who took away our gnomes?

Ryan Martin-Hachey
Contributing Writer

The Landing is the hub of campus, where there is an exciting event almost every day of the week. Be it DIY blanket-making, a video game night, karaoke, or even a concert. But, one thing this year of events is going to lack is gnomes. There, of course, was a sad reason for there to be no gnomes.

“The main reason that events are changed is due to issues with supplies. Between shipping delays and the fact that Student Life is understaffed, it is sometimes difficult to get the supplies we need in time for an event,” Director of Activities Brandon Reed said.

The issue of Student Life being understaffed has been highlighted by not one but two events getting rescheduled mainly due to this fact. The point of shortages of materials can be seen not just at UMF but also at almost every store in the area, empty shelves and higher prices can be seen showing a weakness in infrastructure.

It can not be said for certain if gnome-making will be making a return. This has led to some unrest among the student body for those looking forward to the event.

“It was deeply upsetting,” UMF first-year Keira McGrath said.“When I found out I went back to my room and cried myself to sleep.”

This disappointment was easily preventable, but in the same breath, it was out of everyone’s control. UMF has removed all of the protections that were in place in the years prior, masks are no longer required in buildings, the dining hall, and is left up to the choice of the professor in classrooms. Worldwide mask mandates have been removed as well, which has only worsened the situation. If these mandates were still in place, or in place for longer, it is highly likely that there would have been the necessary supplies available for the gnome-making to have happened. Thus preventing the great disappointment that many students on campus felt with this news.

Let’s all hope that these events, which students each pay over a hundred dollars a semester for, can go back to normal. Gnomes, despite being a small event in a large school year on the surface, would bring much joy to many overworked and stressed college students who, now, will lose out on yet another activity. A beacon of hope in a hard world, gently extinguished with not but a faint wisp of air remaining.