Friday Feature • September 1

Friday, September 1, 2023

As retold by Jeff Stevens, Dean for School of Applied Technology.

I sat with two students at the lunch picnic today and initiated the awkward conversations to get things rolling. They could not be more different in personality and style but they were friendly and courteous to Tim Sortore and I.

The first student, AJ, leaves and we all say "see ya."

Five minutes later, the second student, Nathan, packs out (shagging a couple extra bags of chips) and says "goodbye." He comes back two minutes later looking for his phone - it's GONE!

I do the father thing and have him go through his bag, we try and call but no luck, he retraces his steps but no go! It's that moment where I can see he's ready to call this college thing quits and crumble.

He uses my phone and calls his dad who puts a trace out on his phone. We are sitting at the stadium and his phone pings in Braddon Hall! He says, "that other guy grabbed my phone." We had a quiet few moments and then he nervously says, "I think he grabbed it. Not saying he stole it, but it's gone!"

I agree to walk there with him and we discuss strategy for a potential confrontation. He's not accusing someone or anything but it was not looking too good. We both agree that it's just a mistake, and if necessary the RD and UP can be called, but we will try our best to manage this ourselves.

As we are maneuvering down the hill and then boom, the other guy is running up the hill! He's yelling, "Dude - I'm sooooo sorry, I swear I didn't steal your phone. I mean it! I was laying on my bed and reached to the nightstand for my phone and then WHOA! This is not my phone. Omg! I swear I didn't steal it, I mean they can trace these and everything! I tried Siri to call mom but nothing so I just came running back looking for you in the red hat!"

What a great ending. They connected, right in front of me, two young men who could not be from more different worlds. I went back to get my robe and all from Orvis and when I came out I see this. That made my day!

Best part by far. I just pictured 39 years from now these two talking and remembering this moment.

It was a very good day and I needed to share!