The end of the semester is a time for reflection – a time to look back to see what went wrong, what went right and what you need to improve upon for next semester.
For me, it’s a time to reflect on the exorbitant number of free T-shirts I’ve collected this semester.
Right when you get to the university, you get your first free shirt. You remember New Student Orientation. You know, that two-day, $145 field trip where you got drunk for the first time? You didn’t get just one “free” shirt – you got two! Flash forward to my junior year, and the shirts keep on coming.
The first one of the year was a fight. It was Sept. 26 – a dreary, rainy and cold Friday night. Maryland men’s soccer vs. Wake Forest. Upon entering Ludwig Field after waiting in line for nearly 15 minutes, I immediately realized I had entered through the wrong entrance: They were giving away shirts at the student entrance. But no need to worry – my former roommate and I sprinted over to get a shirt. Despite being extremely tired and nearly breaking my ankle in a hole in the ground, nothing would stop me. We got our shirts, and promptly watched our team lose 4-2 in the pouring rain. The shirt got soaking wet, but it was the same red and black “Crew” shirt that I got last year, so no big deal. On a side note, I experienced my first “voluntary” evacuation. I laughed. Shirt ranking: 6/10.
On that same night was the Stamp All-Niter. Between a Panda Express eating contest (the Orange Chicken was amazing, by the way) and an “all night” event that ended at about 2 a.m., I got my shirt. This one wasn’t that tough to get – I saw them setting up and was ready to fend off the masses. But the shirt was still impressive. It is all black with red and white lettering. Despite the fact that the shirt did not include the year on it and it was a large, I’ll give it a 7.5 / 10 ranking.
Next up was Midnight – sorry, Maryland Madness on Oct. 17. This was a pretty cool night. Along with the free shirt, I got free tickets to a suite in Comcast Center. After seeing the same exact show the previous two years (except this time, it was the Under Armour show), the shirt and the tickets were the only saving grace. The shirt was totally different from past years’ Maryland Madness shirts and, just like the All-Niter shirt, didn’t include the date. It’s like they don’t want us to remember the season. Shirt ranking: 8/10.
A week later was the Terps’ football game on Oct. 25. Once again, it was a rainy, dreary and cold day. I thought about not going, but then I got a call from a dear friend informing me that they were giving out free shirts. So naturally, I didn’t just scan and leave; I scanned, got my free T-shirt and left. Yep, I’m one of them. Despite the fact that the shirt’s sponsor, a to-remain-unnamed bank, may soon cease to exist, the shirt was impressive – team names, dates and a graphic! Shirt ranking: 9.5/10.
The final free shirt was at the “Blackout” football game Nov. 22. Wait. Never mind, I don’t remember that.
Though I enjoyed these free shirts, none of them topped my lucky finals shirt – the Google “I’m feeling lucky” shirt I got my freshman year.
Sure, you may say that as an in-state student, I paid thousands of dollars in tuition for the right to get the aforementioned free shirts. It might have been expensive, but I feel it was well worth the cost.
The fact that the shirts may be worth more than my degree: priceless.
Joel Cohen is a junior government and politics major. He can be reached at jcohendbk@gmail.com.
