Every morning around 5 a.m., an email slides into your inbox: The Message Center Digest. In my earlier years at Bucknell, it would arrive closer to 1 a.m., a tell-tale sign that you’ve been up doing homework for too long. I think it’s a fair assumption that the majority of the student population leaves it untouched, rotting amongst thousands of other unopened emails. It may seem like a completely trivial email—a virtual bulletin board in the local community center, if you will. It’ll sit there amongst the promotional emails from that website you ordered from recently and now they won’t leave you alone. Personally, I make an attempt to skim it every day, and I’d like to encourage you to do the same.
My main reason for being a Message Center advocate is the personal classifieds section. Quite regularly, people in the Bucknell Community are looking for someone to take things off their hands, and depending on how desperate they are to do so, you just may get a deal you couldn’t find anywhere else. I’ve seen some nice purses and vintage jewelry, but if that’s not up your alley, maybe someone is getting rid of a piece of furniture that’s exactly what your apartment was looking for.
For just a couple dollars, I’ve bought two rings from someone who happened to work at the 7th St. Cafe, one of which I’m wearing as I write this. Last semester, I was able to pick up a complete set of 80s Kodak Photography Books for no charge, with the same set going for around $75 online. This section is by no means only occupied by what some might deem as “old junk;” just the other day, I saw a pair of gently worn Ugg boots being sold for just $60! Especially pay attention towards the end of the year when everyone is moving out and/or graduating because there are sure to be some dorm essentials that people are looking to get rid of.
The personal classified section isn’t always trying to take your money either—you may find ways to earn it, too. I’ve seen plenty of postings by professors and other community members looking for a pet or babysitter. Who could pass up looking after your professor’s adorable dog while making some cash as well? Or maybe you can go back to the good ol’ days of making cash as a kid, as I’ve seen a posting or two looking for lawn mowing and yard work. Maybe someone needs their driveway shoveled during all of this snow!
Another benefit of the Message Center is that you may come across something that you otherwise wouldn’t have. Personally, I’m pretty up to date on events within the literary, theatre and arts community. On the other hand, advertisements for a talk by an esteemed scientist may never come my way. Advertisements for events that you might want to attend may slip right under your nose, simply because there are so many events going on every week. For example, on Jan. 30, the Neuroscience seminar hosted Dr. Dominic Frank of Rockefeller University on Zoom, where he spoke about “The Organization of Early Olfactory System In The Clonal Raider Ant.” Without being in the Neuroscience department, I may not have found out that this talk was available to anyone in the community—but never fear, the Message Center is here!
So maybe next time you’re doing your daily email check, take a moment to skim through it because you’ll never know what you’ll find.