ARISTORISM IN OUR UNIVERSITY

ARISTORISM IN OUR UNIVERSITY. The first time I entered the University of Lagos I was astonished and fascinated by the environment. At that moment, I had the impression that I have arrived at the ivory tower. As a new comer, I began to study the vicinity; therefore I read every signboard I saw on the way. Along the line I came across this signboard that baffled me, what baffled me was the inscription on the signboard, which read thus: - “ARISTORISM IS ARISTOCRACY OUR DEAR DAUGHTER BEWARE OF ATISTORISM” When I got home that day, I did not hesitate to consult my dictionary to know the meaning of the two key words that maid up the inscription which is; ARISTORISM AND ARISTOCRACY. But to my consternation, after searching through my new edition of Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, none of the two words could be found there. All I could find was Aristocracy, Aristocrat and Aristocratic. I then assumed that the printer might have misspelled the words during the time of printing the word on the signboard. The next day I resolved going back to unilag with the hope of blazing a train of alerting the student union by whom courtesy the sign-board was built that there was an error in the spelling of some of the words on the sign-board. When I entered the university gate that evening, I was carried away by the sight of the campus girls which dressed in different kinds of flimsy and foxy wears as they line up as if they were waiting to welcome an important dignitary on his arrival. As I was standing there being astonished I saw one guy and I demanded from him to tell me the reason why those girls were lying up there, he told me that they were waiting for Aristos. I was confused when I heard the word “Aristos” so I went ahead and asked him to explain what he meant by “Aristos”. “Don’t tell me you don’t understand what Aristo means” he asked looking rather surprised. I was ashamed that I haven’t come across such word before, but Idecided not to pretend.”. “Pleased, to be frank, I don’t know the meaning” I confessed. “Would you mind explaining it to me”. I demanded. “Okay I’ll explain it to you” he started. “Aristos’ are the men that usually come on weekends with cars to pick those girls for a night out; they are the highly placed men in the society. They are called the Aristocrats, but the short form is “Aristos” he explain.” Today is weekend that is why you see them standing there.” “Do you know the funny thing about them? They are crazy about them because they give them a substantial amount after a night out”. He added. After the explanation he bid me fare well. When the guy left I stood there observing how crazy those girls were about the so called Aristos, I even overheard one of them said that any Aristo she got tonight she will make sure he becomes hers for ever. I saw them throwing paper into any car that pass which I later understand to be there contact address. Before I could say Jack Robinson the so-called Aristos started arriving with there push cars picking the girls one after the others. As I stood there wondering about what I saw, fortunately for me I looked up and saw the signboard again, which baffled me before. This time I don’t need anybody to interpret the meaning of the inscription for me .I understood clearly that what those girls were doing was ARISTORISM and I saw how ARISTO-CRAZY they were. At that moment I understand that the printer did not misspelled any of the word. I also understand that the writer was actually preaching a sermon but unfortunately those girls could not hidto his warnings. ARISTORISM is very common in all our universities. The school authority in unilag and the student union has been trying there best to warn the student against ARISTORISM. Recently, the authorities in unilag have taking another bold step by introducing a new dress code that will guide the student on the type of cloth to be worn inside the campus. All those flimsy, foxy and outlandish dresses are no longer welcome inside the campus. But the big question is; can this solve the problem of ARISTORISM in our university? If I were a lexicographer, I’ll make a new entry for ARISTORISM and ARISTOCRAZY in my dictionary. I’ll define ARISTOCRAZY as an act of flirting or selling ones body to Aristocrat for money making, while I define ARISTOCRACY as a state of when one is addicted to selling her body to Aristocrat for money. Other universities in Nigeria should wake up to fight against ARISTORISM. They should emulate the authority in unilag and their move so far to fight against ARISTORISM. Another measure to be taking in the fight against ARISTORISM is to enlighten the student on the danger of ARISTORISM. Let them know that ARISTORISM is precarious because it exposes one to the danger of contacting the dreaded HIV/AIDS and other STDs. One can be used for rituals making, it can also jeopardize one education in the future when one become ARISTO-CRAZY.I think this should be written on the gate of all our tertiary institutions: ARISTORISM IS ARISTOCRAZY OUR DEAR DAUGHTER BEWARE OF ARISRORISM.Prince Emeka AnyaojuWrite in from Surulere Lagos