Indecorousness in the Hallowed Residence of Royalty

 

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Royalty comes with power, a throne, ruler, subjects, palace and much more decorum, decency and civility. A rephrasal for clarity: Royalty with these tangibles is but a bitten into fruit, with a large chunk missing- much like the apple logo, which features a bitten apple. This analogy illustrates the idea that certain trappings are integral to the concept of royalty, and their absence suppresses its essence.

In this residence of royalty, power and its highly revered subjects have remained strongly present but the monarchy has overlooked a void; it has failed to recognize the absence of its most important subjects- decorum, civility and decency. These subjects have been subsequently plunged into the shadows, abysmally trampled upon, relegated to sheer afterthoughts and reduced to the occasional class.

The perpetual struggle to maintain decency in hostels, especially female hostels like Queens Hall, is a continuous loop of trial. Despite the management's repeated attempts to drum home the importance of dressing modestly, some residents seem to be stuck in the upside down, almost oblivious to the impact of their attire on others and institutional compliance. What's more unnerving is that some executives, who should be setting a good example, are sometimes seen going around in attire that's more suited to a nightclub than a place of residence. This is with regard to a particular executive with pronounced bodily features parading the hall with dresses that barely cover her up. The presence of male porters only adds to the awkwardness of the situation. If those in positions of authority are disregarding the rules, it's little wonder that other students feel emboldened to do the same. The fact that some students are occasionally called out for their dressing and forced to change, while others manage to fly under the surveillance shows the inconsistencies in enforcing the dress code policy.

The pestilence of unnecessary noise-making in Queens Hall is a clear and wicked reminder that civility and consideration for others are forgone alternatives; sacrificed for personal indulgence. It is understandable and expected that male halls like Indy, Zik, and Kuti tend towards the boisterous side of the bias but it's disappointing that a female hall of residence that claims class and tact can't afford to maintain a more decorous atmosphere. The audacity of some residents is upsetting and when confronted about their noise levels, they become irate, forgetting that they're not in a marketplace, but in a learning environment where focus, peace and quiet are indispensable. Sometimes, this occurs at odd and late hours, disrupting the studies and rest of others; this is nothing short of inconsiderate. It's more appalling that there are no penalties to deter such behavior and those who value peace and quiet suffer in frustration. The lack of accountability in this regard is a lousy oversight that needs to be addressed.

Likewise, resort to name-calling and verbal altercations in Queens Hall is perturbing and it threatens the values of civility and decorum that the hall purports to uphold. With physical altercations prohibited, some students have taken to verbal sparring, sometimes escalating to the point of near-physical confrontation, only to be prevented by timely intervention. This behavior is unbecoming and speaks poorly on the individuals involved. Rather than availing themselves of the established authorities and reporting mechanisms, some students elect to engage themselves in knee-jerk reactions, trading barbs and insults. They compromise their own dignity and degrade their position. True royalty, as aptly put, handles conflicts with poise, gentleness, and calmness, not with noise, insults and subtle jabs. 

The casual approach to squatting in Queens Hall is risky and it puts residents in potential danger. Some students think it's harmless to host friends without permission; they feel happy sneaking them in with borrowed ID cards or other clandestine means. However, this approach to security protocols puts everyone at risk, it creates an environment where unauthorized individuals can move freely within the hall. It's a gamble with fire, and the consequences of getting caught are severe. This behavior is against the hall's rules, which are designed to protect residents. When individuals prioritize convenience over compliance, they're not just breaking rules – they're jeopardizing the well-being of their fellow residents. So, how many will continue to take this risk, and at what cost? It becomes important to ask but more important to enlighten residents on the reason they should not be involved in such activity.

The menace of stealing in Queens Hall, particularly when it comes to dresses left out to dry, is a blatant disregard for others' property. It's bad that some residents feel entitled to take something that doesn't belong to them, simply because it's readily available. This screams classless and indecorous, unbecoming of a place where Queens are supposedly resident. The fact that this behavior is rampant among fresh students, with many taking to the Fresher's group chat to lament their stolen items, paints a sorry picture of the values and principles that some of these residents hold dear. The repeated pleas and demands for the return of stolen items is a vile mirror: a mirror of shame and wickedness. This act is sometimes taken to be just “taking” but the law deems it stealing and prescribes punishments for it. Section 383 of the Criminal Code Act defines stealing as a situation where a person fraudulently takes anything capable of being stolen, or fraudulently converts to their own use or to the use of another anything capable of being stolen. Perhaps, if every Queenite were armed with this knowledge, there would be a drastic reduction in stealing but the reality now is far from that.

A more disturbing occurrence is that some Queenites engage in fraudulent activities, they claim to have transferred money for goods and services when in fact they did not. Some residents have even been known to take advantage of reversed payments, not bothering to rectify the situation. A popular laundromat owner in Queens Hall shared her experience and revealed that some Queenites claim to have made payments when they haven't, likely due to her limited access to technology. It's even more disturbing that they exploit her perceived vulnerability because they think she's unread and illiterate.

These behaviors are utterly unbefitting of royalty and tarnish the hall's reputation. It's important that we reevaluate the values that underlie our system because if these actions go unchecked, they'll eventually become the norm.