Southwestern College Collegian

Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: Features

It's a legend in the education department. "Midnight Run" is part of the tradition, especially if you are taking a class from Rich Bicker, assistant professor of education. Bicker said, "It's highly refined." Bicker announces the Midnight Run at the beginning of the semester and it is mentioned in the syllabus. "It's firm. If it's not in there then it's not done." The purpose of the Midnight Run is to give students the opportunity to turn their assignments in at the last minute for credit. There are 12 items on the syllabus that students earn credit for and that is what their grade is based on. Julie Wilke, elementary education junior, said "He tells you that they are all due at midnight on the last day of classes. However you can turn them in during the semester whenever you want and if you don't get the grade you want then you can resubmit it. The last time to submit the assignments is midnight on the last day of classes and that will be your final grade." Bicker said, "There are those that really like it and those who say 'No, I better hand my stuff in one by one.'" Wilke is one of the students who likes the idea, but hasn't really taken advantage of it. "I personally like this because I can do whatever assignment I want, in any order, and turn them in whenever I want. I have never done the midnight run because I try to get my work done a bit earlier." Just what does the Midnight Run entail and how does it work? Carmon Bliss, elementary education junior, said, "First, most students frantically try to finish their homework assignments, hop in their car with other education majors, drive to Mr. B's house, and hand in all of their assignments that are placed in a big cooler on Mr. B's front porch." The Midnight Run turn-in device used to be a bag. However, some students four years ago didn't like the bag. Bicker said, "A creative group of students got a cooler and decorated it and it is now the official midnight run box." Bliss said, "Mr. Bicker comes out at midnight, takes the cooler inside, then locks the door, shuts off the light, and goes back to bed." Bicker keeps the time consistent for everyone by going by the clock on the weather channel. Bliss is another student who hasn't taken full advantage of the midnight run. She said, "I have only participated in two midnight runs, but I made sure that they were assignments not worth very many points just in case something were to happen. It's a lot of fun and kind of a relief to have everything complete." Another student took advantage of the midnight run only once. Jason Maisog, graduate student, said, "On my first year I did take advantage of it. However the idea is to not have to use it. We are, as college students, supposed to be responsible enough not to put things off until the last minute, but you know things come up and sometimes the midnight run helps us a bit. I would rather be one of the responsible students waiting across the street from Bicker's house throwing a party and laughing at all the people who are getting there at 11:59 p.m." Many memorable experiences have come by participating in the midnight run. Maisog said his most memorable experience was one midnight the education majors stalked Bicker in his house. "The lights go out right at midnight and what happens after that is a "mystery." So we parked a block away from Bicker's house and left a camera running right by the infamous Midnight Cooler so that we can capture Bicker on camera actually coming out to get it since the cooler is chained to his porch. All the camera caught was darkness and the noise of chains being dragged and the slamming of the door. Bicker evaded his video debut. It was exciting, like we were spotting a sasquatch or something." Bicker has his own share of memorable experiences as well. Bicker said, "Apparently the Winfield Police Department is aware of this. I had one young thing make a dash up to the front door, leave her things (she had her nighty on) and she got back to her car and there was a cop sitting there and she said, 'Bicker. Midnight run,' and he looked at his watch and said 'Congratulations you've got a half hour to spare.'" There have also been some encouraging experiences. One happened about six or seven years ago. Bicker has some rental properties and the house next door to his is rental property that he owns. "One year I rented it to a couple of SC grads, one of which was an education major. So on the designated night they and their boyfriends were sitting out on their front porch with refreshments and signs and when someone ran up they would root for them." Not only has the Midnight Run provided memorable experiences but also learning experiences. Maisog said, "I believe it can help us to learn to be responsible with our time management, because after the first midnight run, I do not want to do an overnighter again and spend all day working again on things due the next midnight. It should help us to create our own time frame to get the assignments we need finished in our own time. It's all about time management, if you were good at it then you didn't have to worry, if you were not good you better learn how to be good otherwise procrastination will catch you and have you doing overnighters and stressful days with assignments." Jessica Bernhardt is a junior majoring in journalism. You may e-mail her at jessica.bernhardt@sckans.edu.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools