Involuntary RPG Journal Entries

The fate of Anika Morgenstern concerns me as well, and I brought these concerns, as well as those that I have seen expressed publicly, to the Dean. She emphasized to me that indefinite detention is used only in extreme cases, and that it is for our safety, a last resort for Vols who pose too much of a danger to students and staff to continue living among us. She emphasized that current students who are well-behaved and do not intentionally set out to harm others have no reason to fear being placed in permanent lockup. It is not a decision that is taken lightly -- and I think we can all agree that Anika's actions should be taken seriously.

The Dean would not give me any details on the detention center because they are classified. This includes where it is and if there are any other Vols that are. Nevertheless, I hope what information I did receive will help to ease any anxieties that you may have.

Thank you to everyone who voted for me in our Student Council elections. A year ago, I would not have expected to be elected the leader of anything, let alone a group of students as talented and capable as the one here. Congratulations to everyone else who won! I think soon we will be getting to know each other very well.

Everyone else who ran, for every position, also deserves recognition for their investment in our collective future here at IVI, especially Mímir, who suggested the council in the first place. I especially appreciated that none of the campaigns devolved into the negativity and attacks that seem to be expected of politics. Truly, there were many difficult decisions on our IVI ballots! Because these voices also deserve to be heard, I propose that, once we determine a meeting time for student council, meetings should be open to all.

To prove my fidelity to the message of my campaign -- communication -- I have set up a standing appointment with the Dean. We will be meeting to discuss the state of IVI every other Thursday. I hope that I am always available to other students, but in the name of making myself available, I will now commit to "office hours" at a quiet table in the first floor study area from 4:00-5:00 every Monday and Wednesday. I am looking forward to the conversations I will have!

Thank you again, IVI! I hope to serve you well.

[Harlow]

I'm s Are you upset I wish you could be officially on this council! Are there any other movies you would like to watch?

Marhaba, IVI! I am Nawal Bechara, and I too am running for president of our forthcoming student council. I have already spoken with a number of you about specific changes that you would like to see, and I've heard a lot of good ideas, but the most important thing to me and to many others is a greater degree of communication, both between students and staff as well as between fellow students.

For example, I did not speak to anyone who was displeased with the new extension to our forcef campus, but neither did I speak to anyone who knew about this extension before it was unveiled. We should have been aware that IVI was working on such a thing from the beginning. As president, I would work to keep the student body abreast of similar large developments. Furthermore, I would seek clarity in the punishments schedule. I don't believe it is productive for anyone when the administration sends students to solitary confinement for undisclosed amounts of time -- though, as I have mentioned, it is one of my goals to make it so easy and enjoyable to participate at IVI that no one will have to face these punishments.

Several students mentioned that the class structure, even with its options for independent study, is not necessarily suited to every student's needs. I would push for those students, to make classes a positive environment and provide opportunities such as work study that may have more real-world applications for many students. I know there are already some students who seek help with their schoolwork from their peers; I would like to formalize the tutoring system so that the work done both by tutor and pupil is recognized and taken into consideration, either in grading or with some sort of cash reward.

There are many other issues that you identified when speaking with me this past weekend. Some would like more pub nights, and it is clear that we have the resources and responsibility to make a second pub night per week run as smoothly as the first. Some would like an alternative to pub nights, and I believe the president should also be responsible for making sure those students are satisfied. Some would like more informal competitions with prizes, such as the ones we had in orientation weekend. Some would like greater access to private spaces, which seems very possible to negotiate, given the amount of space we have. Some would like the opportunity to leave campus temporarily, which also seems possible, given the success of Team Swan's trip. Some would like sexual favors from the Dean, which I do not believe is legally possible in Australia or, indeed, morally advisable. Nevertheless, I promise to take all ideas into consideration.

I would approach my position on student council with both realism and positivity. The ability to select our own leaders is a crucial step in self-determination, but believing that we are powerless only guarantees that we will be so. Believing in change and working towards that change makes it possible. The administration has already proved time and again that they are willing to work with us, listen to our concerns, and provide us with what we need in order to thrive here. As your student council president, I promise to work with you and with them to make all of our time at IVI as positive as possible.

Thank you, and please remember to vote Nawal Bechara!

Last week, I had an accident with my powers that could have been much worse. I used to have them far more often, but this was the first in several week. I was fortunate that I was outdoors and that my target wasn't flammable, but it was still quite nerve-wracking at the time.

This gave me an idea: I should start a support group for other Vols like me, with dangerous abilities.

This does not need to be an official club, and we do not need to have formal meetings, but I believe it could be helpful for myself and others to know who at IVI would be willing and able to talk to others who identify with our struggles.

The way I think would be most expedient to arrange this is that I will create a list of members over e-mail. That way, everyone will have it for future reference and in case there is a need to contact the entire group. To join this group, please just let me know as soon as possible, either by commenting here, or contacting me whatever way makes you feel the most comfortable.

[Posted in the morning, before classes.]

[Locked: Logan Hastings, Harlow Hart, and Edwin Seabeck]

I can't believe I missed all this.

This is another lost-and-found notice.

I have a set of lost men's clothing. Please let me know if this is yours:

[Attached is a phone photo of Valery Zhiglov's shirt, pants, and towel. The underwear is not visible.]

I only used the towel to cover myself on my way back to my room, but I was already planning on doing my laundry tonight and it would not be any trouble to wash it as well.

If anyone has seen a pair of khaki women's trousers, a green blouse, an a leather belt, I would appreciate if those were returned to me. My towel was standard-issue IVI.

Nada Arkaji swam in the 50 m freestyle at the Olympics yesterday, the same race as Sabine Hazboun from Palestine. Neither advanced, of course, but I think it is important that they were there. Nada Arkaji was the first Qatari woman ever to compete in the Olympic Games, and perhaps she will inspire future generations of women in Qatar.

They are both quite young, and Sabine Hazboun set a personal record in her swim in the heats, which was also a record for Palestine. Perhaps there is even potential for female Arab swimmers to do well in four years.

Will IVI provide its students with absentee ballots for elections that they might miss in their home countries? I do not believe this will be an issue for me, but I am curious. I think it is most important for the Americans here, whose country seems to be in most danger of electing a universally offensive President, and the rest of us will have to deal with him nosing into business about which he knows nothing until your next election.

I do not mean to bore with talk of politics, especially during the Olympics, but I have just been thinking about it recently.

I am just happy that my nation is allowed to compete.

!مرحبا Hello. For those of you I have not met, I am Nawal Bechara from Ramallah, Palestine.

I for one think this will be very nice.