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Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: Subject Change - Can somebody help me find the previously famous OHIO Student Section?
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GroverBall
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Posted: 1/16/2017 6:25 PM
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Recovering Journalist wrote:expand_more
I'm amazed at the amount of navel gazing and whining this board does about fans. We had a great crowd Saturday despite dire (erroneous) weather warnings and the first instinct here is to bitch.

A completely full student section watched a crappy game on a cold and rainy day, but they somehow did it wrong. We sell more season tickets than any team in the MAC, but the old folks aren't loud or they don't come often enough, or they aren't standing all day.

Get over yourselves. Stop worrying about about who does and doesn't come to games and how they do or don't behave. Be glad they're there supporting our teams.

Actual excitement is organic. It doesn't happen when you're watching a team that can't solve a zone and can't hit a shot. The Convo will get loud when there's something to cheer about.
I'm with RJ on this. I also think that putting the black seats in front of the students was a mistake. I was there Saturday and thought the crowd was just fine, the game was not.
bobcat695
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Posted: 1/16/2017 7:45 PM
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GroverBall wrote:expand_more
I'm amazed at the amount of navel gazing and whining this board does about fans. We had a great crowd Saturday despite dire (erroneous) weather warnings and the first instinct here is to bitch.

A completely full student section watched a crappy game on a cold and rainy day, but they somehow did it wrong. We sell more season tickets than any team in the MAC, but the old folks aren't loud or they don't come often enough, or they aren't standing all day.

Get over yourselves. Stop worrying about about who does and doesn't come to games and how they do or don't behave. Be glad they're there supporting our teams.

Actual excitement is organic. It doesn't happen when you're watching a team that can't solve a zone and can't hit a shot. The Convo will get loud when there's something to cheer about.
I'm with RJ on this. I also think that putting the black seats in front of the students was a mistake. I was there Saturday and thought the crowd was just fine, the game was not.
The Black seats aren't the problem. Cell phones are a much bigger reason that the OZone is so weak. Kids allow themselves to be distracted by any notification vibrating in their pocket. I had Black seats for many years from their original inception, so I got the best view of what was going on in the OZone. The students had no creativity or imagination, nor did they do a very good job of being engaged as general fans. There is so much information available to do rap sheets on almost every player and coach, yet screaming ,"F*** You!" was what they'd resort to. I was a loyal member of the 6th Man Club from 91-95. We were organized and rowdy. Blaming the missing 4' from the front row to the sideline of the playing surface is pathetic. The 110 should be leading the chants. They're the best fans in the house every single game.
Buckeye to Bobcat
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Posted: 1/16/2017 7:54 PM
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bobcat695 wrote:expand_more
I'm amazed at the amount of navel gazing and whining this board does about fans. We had a great crowd Saturday despite dire (erroneous) weather warnings and the first instinct here is to bitch.

A completely full student section watched a crappy game on a cold and rainy day, but they somehow did it wrong. We sell more season tickets than any team in the MAC, but the old folks aren't loud or they don't come often enough, or they aren't standing all day.

Get over yourselves. Stop worrying about about who does and doesn't come to games and how they do or don't behave. Be glad they're there supporting our teams.

Actual excitement is organic. It doesn't happen when you're watching a team that can't solve a zone and can't hit a shot. The Convo will get loud when there's something to cheer about.
I'm with RJ on this. I also think that putting the black seats in front of the students was a mistake. I was there Saturday and thought the crowd was just fine, the game was not.
The Black seats aren't the problem. Cell phones are a much bigger reason that the OZone is so weak. Kids allow themselves to be distracted by any notification vibrating in their pocket. I had Black seats for many years from their original inception, so I got the best view of what was going on in the OZone. The students had no creativity or imagination, nor did they do a very good job of being engaged as general fans. There is so much information available to do rap sheets on almost every player and coach, yet screaming ,"F*** You!" was what they'd resort to. I was a loyal member of the 6th Man Club from 91-95. We were organized and rowdy. Blaming the missing 4' from the front row to the sideline of the playing surface is pathetic. The 110 should be leading the chants. They're the best fans in the house every single game.

I agree with this statement in its entirety. Unfortunately, our student section turned into screaming profanities and no innovation. No song writing or nothing.
Mark Lembright '85
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Posted: 1/16/2017 8:10 PM
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bobcat695 wrote:expand_more
I'm amazed at the amount of navel gazing and whining this board does about fans. We had a great crowd Saturday despite dire (erroneous) weather warnings and the first instinct here is to bitch.

A completely full student section watched a crappy game on a cold and rainy day, but they somehow did it wrong. We sell more season tickets than any team in the MAC, but the old folks aren't loud or they don't come often enough, or they aren't standing all day.

Get over yourselves. Stop worrying about about who does and doesn't come to games and how they do or don't behave. Be glad they're there supporting our teams.

Actual excitement is organic. It doesn't happen when you're watching a team that can't solve a zone and can't hit a shot. The Convo will get loud when there's something to cheer about.
I'm with RJ on this. I also think that putting the black seats in front of the students was a mistake. I was there Saturday and thought the crowd was just fine, the game was not.
The Black seats aren't the problem. Cell phones are a much bigger reason that the OZone is so weak. Kids allow themselves to be distracted by any notification vibrating in their pocket. I had Black seats for many years from their original inception, so I got the best view of what was going on in the OZone. The students had no creativity or imagination, nor did they do a very good job of being engaged as general fans. There is so much information available to do rap sheets on almost every player and coach, yet screaming ,"F*** You!" was what they'd resort to. I was a loyal member of the 6th Man Club from 91-95. We were organized and rowdy. Blaming the missing 4' from the front row to the sideline of the playing surface is pathetic. The 110 should be leading the chants. They're the best fans in the house every single game.
B I N G O!!!
Mark Lembright '85
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Posted: 1/16/2017 8:13 PM
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cbus cat fan wrote:expand_more
Keep in mind the long MLK holiday weekend probably meant some students were not in Athens.
They just got back on campus two weeks ago after the Winter break! They're going home after only 2 weeks?!? These kids. Millenials!!!
cbus cat fan
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Posted: 1/16/2017 8:51 PM
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There's a lot to discuss, including technology, changing sports habits, profanity etc. However, to blame seating aesthetics is really missing the mark. Declining sports viewership on TV seems to be a worldwide phenomena. Here is a link about declining European soccer viewership. They also make mention of declining NFL viewership. In addition, interest in the Super Bowl now that America's favorite celebrity team the Dallas Cowboys has been eliminated has also taken a hit. https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2017-01-16/foot...
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18484166/super-bowl-ti...

Think about it, how many of us old timers from the 90s, 80s, 70s etc drove, found a ride, or took a bus to big road games? Did we go just for a road trip and to party? No, that was fun too, but our primary interest was to cheer on our Bobcats. We sang and chanted but profanity seemed to juvenile, we were more creative than that. For a multitude of reasons it is a different world today. However, though we are divided in our opinions as to why, winning has a way of working out all of these problems.
Last Edited: 1/16/2017 8:53:19 PM by cbus cat fan
Obc2
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Posted: 1/16/2017 9:05 PM
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I missed few games at the convo as undergrad.

To the best of my knowledge almost all of them were due to foul weather. 35 degrees and rainy would keep me from walking from my pads on south green or near the end of court st, for sure.
Bobcat-7.0
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Posted: 1/16/2017 10:29 PM
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In the 90's I loved going to Fiami and being louder than thier pathetic fan base, also many trips to Marshall , Xavier ,Kentucky in Cincy and one great game at Saint Johns Arena, how many students or 20 somethings travel to games now days?
GroverBall
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Posted: 1/17/2017 12:10 AM
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bobcat695 wrote:expand_more
I'm amazed at the amount of navel gazing and whining this board does about fans. We had a great crowd Saturday despite dire (erroneous) weather warnings and the first instinct here is to bitch.

A completely full student section watched a crappy game on a cold and rainy day, but they somehow did it wrong. We sell more season tickets than any team in the MAC, but the old folks aren't loud or they don't come often enough, or they aren't standing all day.

Get over yourselves. Stop worrying about about who does and doesn't come to games and how they do or don't behave. Be glad they're there supporting our teams.

Actual excitement is organic. It doesn't happen when you're watching a team that can't solve a zone and can't hit a shot. The Convo will get loud when there's something to cheer about.
I'm with RJ on this. I also think that putting the black seats in front of the students was a mistake. I was there Saturday and thought the crowd was just fine, the game was not.
The Black seats aren't the problem. Cell phones are a much bigger reason that the OZone is so weak. Kids allow themselves to be distracted by any notification vibrating in their pocket. I had Black seats for many years from their original inception, so I got the best view of what was going on in the OZone. The students had no creativity or imagination, nor did they do a very good job of being engaged as general fans. There is so much information available to do rap sheets on almost every player and coach, yet screaming ,"F*** You!" was what they'd resort to. I was a loyal member of the 6th Man Club from 91-95. We were organized and rowdy. Blaming the missing 4' from the front row to the sideline of the playing surface is pathetic. The 110 should be leading the chants. They're the best fans in the house every single game.

I didn't say the black seats were the problem. I think the black seats were a mistake because I would prefer to have fans, any kind of fans, as close to the court as possible rather than empty seats. The black seats are simply not used very often. Looking down from the upper bowl it looks pretty lame to have all these empty seats on three sides of the court. At the EMU game my daughter and I were discussing that the photographers probably love that nobody shows up to sit in the baseline seats because then they have a lot more room to lounge.
Andrew Ruck
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Posted: 1/17/2017 8:17 AM
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My concern with the declining interest with students is they grow up to become us old alumni that support the program and help it continue on successfully. Most all of us say we never missed a game as a student, etc. When is the last time you met a fan that said they never really went to any games or cared at all as a student but are huge fans now as alumni?
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Posted: 1/17/2017 9:21 AM
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LuckySparrow wrote:expand_more
Seems like the OZone has really weakened since the Akron game in 2014. Ever since Saul arrived it seems like there hasn't really been raucous crowds like there were under Groce and Christian.
I (unfortunately) moved away and haven't been to the Convo in years. However, I was there in 2005 then again 2009-2011 (ish). Those were some intense crowds. It was awesome. No opinion on what it is like now, but I felt like that environment was something to really be proud of for the MAC.
Ohio69
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Posted: 1/17/2017 10:43 AM
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boydhallbobcat wrote:expand_more
First step, get rid of the black seats. Put the students right up to the court. Nothing should be in their way, especially a bunch of older alums sitting at a table.
Never going to happen. For some reason our athletic department thinks having these seats makes us more big time. I think inserting these seats in and the table in front of the student section was the beginning of the end for the really rowdy crowds at OU. We don't need those chairs on the court. We aren't OSU or UNC that have to give our big donors seats on the floor. A lot of times those seats are empty on weeknight games anyway.
$ > fans. Always. Everywhere.
Last Edited: 1/17/2017 10:44:11 AM by Ohio69
Alan Swank
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Posted: 1/17/2017 11:23 AM
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From my experience going to concerts, the further the audience is from the stage or the bigger the barrier is between the performers and the crowd, the less the connection. Springsteen is a classic example of a performer who is literally in the audience and his fans are rabid. The black seats are such a barrier and more often than not an empty barrier.
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Posted: 1/17/2017 1:15 PM
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Diamond Cat wrote:expand_more
The more I think about it, this could be the winner issue. If it's like football, I'm sure the people in the black seats tell the students to keep the noise level down.
and that's how things get started....When I sat down there no one (especially I) said to keep it down. 695 and his cronies egged the students and band on to make more noise. McBin, TRMD, Love and those guys on the other end would never tell students to keep it down. Why would you assume the Bobcat Black folks are telling them that and put that uninformed idea up there without knowing it for sure or even knowing whom you are talking about? Shabby, He Hate and others who have been in those seats have a history of being loud when they were students so why would you think they would be telling students to keep it down? This is not like football....it's not even like the lower level on the other side.
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Posted: 1/17/2017 2:35 PM
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bornacatfan wrote:expand_more
The more I think about it, this could be the winner issue. If it's like football, I'm sure the people in the black seats tell the students to keep the noise level down.
and that's how things get started....When I sat down there no one (especially I) said to keep it down. 695 and his cronies egged the students and band on to make more noise. McBin, TRMD, Love and those guys on the other end would never tell students to keep it down. Why would you assume the Bobcat Black folks are telling them that and put that uninformed idea up there without knowing it for sure or even knowing whom you are talking about? Shabby, He Hate and others who have been in those seats have a history of being loud when they were students so why would you think they would be telling students to keep it down? This is not like football....it's not even like the lower level on the other side.
"Black Seaters" can be as loud as they want, but will never be as loud as the student section and, sitting behind a table, will NEVER be as imposing as the students when they are right on the floor. I have led the student section and I have sat in the black seats. They are nothing but a barrier erected by the administration to keep the students back - and hey look at this, we can make a few dollars.

Given my experience, Nee would have had them removed. And I agree.
catfan28
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Posted: 1/17/2017 8:07 PM
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Black seats in front of the student section (in particular the table) were a bad move for student involvement. I don't think there's much doubt there. But it's one of those things that I guarantee they can't/won't change. What's done is done.

Also, those that think our student section is all that much worse/different than say 5 years ago suffer from delusions of grandeur. Maybe there's been a little drop off, but it's not much. I think we tend to remember the HUGE games (Gary Trent Day, Akron 2013, etc.) and forget the run-of-the-mill ones.

Overall, I think we have more students coming to home games now than ever. Even if a lot of them are "lame", that can't be a bad thing. Anyone who's been around in the 70s/80s/90s remembers the days of 200 students at a football game and a lot of meager hoops crowds. Times have changed for the better.
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Posted: 1/17/2017 9:37 PM
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bobcat695 wrote:expand_more
I'm amazed at the amount of navel gazing and whining this board does about fans. We had a great crowd Saturday despite dire (erroneous) weather warnings and the first instinct here is to bitch.

A completely full student section watched a crappy game on a cold and rainy day, but they somehow did it wrong. We sell more season tickets than any team in the MAC, but the old folks aren't loud or they don't come often enough, or they aren't standing all day.

Get over yourselves. Stop worrying about about who does and doesn't come to games and how they do or don't behave. Be glad they're there supporting our teams.

Actual excitement is organic. It doesn't happen when you're watching a team that can't solve a zone and can't hit a shot. The Convo will get loud when there's something to cheer about.
I'm with RJ on this. I also think that putting the black seats in front of the students was a mistake. I was there Saturday and thought the crowd was just fine, the game was not.
The Black seats aren't the problem. Cell phones are a much bigger reason that the OZone is so weak. Kids allow themselves to be distracted by any notification vibrating in their pocket. I had Black seats for many years from their original inception, so I got the best view of what was going on in the OZone. The students had no creativity or imagination, nor did they do a very good job of being engaged as general fans. There is so much information available to do rap sheets on almost every player and coach, yet screaming ,"F*** You!" was what they'd resort to. I was a loyal member of the 6th Man Club from 91-95. We were organized and rowdy. Blaming the missing 4' from the front row to the sideline of the playing surface is pathetic. The 110 should be leading the chants. They're the best fans in the house every single game.
And, oh, by the way, the 6th Man had a bunch of old fogeys called working media separating us from the court. #ChantingSweptByKentDuringALarranagaInterview
shabamon
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Posted: 1/17/2017 10:02 PM
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I've been paying attention to Ohio basketball since 2004-05, my freshman year. In my opinion, in that time, the best years were 05-06, 06-07, and 10-11, the year following Georgetown.

I believe there is a core of students in this year's O Zone that can bring back the glory days. I heard it sitting in the black seats for the Southern game. They tried to do something coordinated on every possession and they looked like they were having fun. You need a core like that for casual fans to surround. That being said, somehow O Zone traditions have not been handed down.
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Posted: 1/18/2017 8:22 AM
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cc-cat wrote:expand_more
The more I think about it, this could be the winner issue. If it's like football, I'm sure the people in the black seats tell the students to keep the noise level down.
and that's how things get started....When I sat down there no one (especially I) said to keep it down. 695 and his cronies egged the students and band on to make more noise. McBin, TRMD, Love and those guys on the other end would never tell students to keep it down. Why would you assume the Bobcat Black folks are telling them that and put that uninformed idea up there without knowing it for sure or even knowing whom you are talking about? Shabby, He Hate and others who have been in those seats have a history of being loud when they were students so why would you think they would be telling students to keep it down? This is not like football....it's not even like the lower level on the other side.
"Black Seaters" can be as loud as they want, but will never be as loud as the student section and, sitting behind a table, will NEVER be as imposing as the students when they are right on the floor. I have led the student section and I have sat in the black seats. They are nothing but a barrier erected by the administration to keep the students back - and hey look at this, we can make a few dollars.

Given my experience, Nee would have had them removed. And I agree.
If a couple chairs and a row of advertising tables is what holds a student back from chanting "defense" or "lets go Bobcats" or "green, white, lets go Ohio" or the generic "ohhhhhhh" after a big dunk or three, then those particular students have more problems than just seats.

When Block and Thompson got into their tie up during the EMU game, I didn't see any students have an issue giving Thompson some heat or cheering Gavin when he came out of the pile with the ball. For a freaking jump ball. Why is it so hard to make some noise when the other team is actually you know, trying to score a damn basket? Because there a couple chairs and a row of advertising tables in front of you? SHAKE YOURSELF.

Everyone on this board wants bigger and better for Ohio Athletics. You know how you get bigger and better? Winning and money. Those seats and those ads provide much needed dollars for the administration. Those seats and those dollars keep the faculty who want to downgrade athletics at bay. Those seats and those dollars help offset the cost for student fees that pay for athletics. You can't have it both ways.
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Posted: 1/24/2017 8:34 PM
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At the Toledo game tonight. Student section dancing, chanting. I was impressed till they announced that it was a group of Brazilian students. They have seemed to pump up the regular student section though.
Alan Swank
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Posted: 1/24/2017 9:41 PM
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yamaha45701 wrote:expand_more
At the Toledo game tonight. Student section dancing, chanting. I was impressed till they announced that it was a group of Brazilian students. They have seemed to pump up the regular student section though.
This is not the first time a group of international students stole the show and were into the whole game. One of the differences - they weren't looking at their phones. A good number of the folks to their right, male and female, were more interested in showing their friends what they had seen/found on their phone than watching the game.
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Posted: 1/24/2017 10:21 PM
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Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
At the Toledo game tonight. Student section dancing, chanting. I was impressed till they announced that it was a group of Brazilian students. They have seemed to pump up the regular student section though.
This is not the first time a group of international students stole the show and were into the whole game. One of the differences - they weren't looking at their phones. A good number of the folks to their right, male and female, were more interested in showing their friends what they had seen/found on their phone than watching the game.
be careful saying something negative about young folks looking at their phones , it's very possible they were answering an important text or checking the weather and how to prepare for the following day.
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Posted: 1/24/2017 11:47 PM
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Just what is the deal with the rambunctious Brazilians that show up and rock to Ozone one game every year (yeah - they put the regular ozoners to their left to shame). Why are they at just one game a year? Can we schedule what ever they are here for to be when we play Akron? Please?
catfan28
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Posted: 1/25/2017 12:14 AM
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RSBobcat wrote:expand_more
Just what is the deal with the rambunctious Brazilians that show up and rock to Ozone one game every year (yeah - they put the regular ozoners to their left to shame). Why are they at just one game a year? Can we schedule what ever they are here for to be when we play Akron? Please?
It's an exchange program with the College of Business. Think they come for just 1-2 weeks and then return home. The university needs to make a concerted effort to recruit Brazilians to the main campus :)
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Posted: 1/25/2017 8:29 AM
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catfan28 wrote:expand_more
Just what is the deal with the rambunctious Brazilians that show up and rock to Ozone one game every year (yeah - they put the regular ozoners to their left to shame). Why are they at just one game a year? Can we schedule what ever they are here for to be when we play Akron? Please?
It's an exchange program with the College of Business. Think they come for just 1-2 weeks and then return home. The university needs to make a concerted effort to recruit Brazilians to the main campus :)
I want to party with those people.
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