Ratner Employee Greets Patron
By Matthew Goldenberg
Nov. 10, 2012
In an unprecedented display of social interaction, a front desk employee at Ratner Athletics Center greeted a patron coming in to exercise by saying hello cheerfully. The rare communication took place Tuesday morning at 7:47 a.m., with lucky second-year George Johnson.
Johnson entered Ratner expecting the standard, impersonal card swipe from the desk employee. But I could tell something was different when I got close to the desk, he said. She actually looked at me as I approached. And… well, it seems silly now… but I think we even made eye contact. And then it happened.
Johnson claims that as he approached the desk, the woman working smiled and said, Hello. This is in stark contrast to the usual demeanor of the desk employees, who are normally quiet and reserved, rather than prone to social outbursts. Regular patrons have likened Johnsons story to people claiming to have seen Bigfoot or been abducted by extraterrestrials. Undaunted, Johnson is sticking to his story.
After the event, Johnson said he went on to have an excellent workout. He hopes others will have a similar experience with this desk employee, but acknowledges that such occurrences are exceptional. Nevertheless, Johnson is committed to initiating an interaction with desk employees from now on in the hopes of even further cordiality.
As of press time, the Ratner employee in question had not responded to a reporter sent to the desk seeking comment.
