First it was the Montagues and the Capulets. Then came Death Row Records against Bad Boy Entertainment. Now it's Nicole and Paris (and by the way, Nicole would totally dominate in a brawl because I hear she goes for the ankles). Whether it's 16th century Italian families, hip-hop record labels or pathetic yet enjoyable celebrity catfights, one thing is certain—rivalries never die. The trend continues on this very campus through the Wisconsinite and the Coastie.
Alright maybe it's not a rivalry per se, but it's a definite polarization. This is especially clear for those who've known this part of the country their whole life until suddenly they're surrounded by the herds of massive, fuzzy, overpriced boots marching around them. And when foreign conversations are heard in foreign accents like ""I don't even really like Jason's new BMW X3,"" there's bound to be a bit of annoyance, if not intimidation felt. Plus the fact that in lecture it seems like a group of these newcomers won't even look in your direction doesn't help calm the waters much.
For reasons like this, most don't feel too guilty poking fun at them because their infamous image is so easy to distinguish. Even businesses can instantly identify their wanted trademarks—Urban Outfitters is directly below Towers and a few convenient steps away is Starbucks. Coincidence? I think not.
""The Coastie"" was even one of this year's most entertaining Halloween costumes. Groups of guys strutted their stuff down State Street equipped with huge sunglasses, fur-lined coats, Chanel handbags and of course, spandex that accentuated their manly legs so nicely.
I may see what a Wisconsinite sees, but I'm actually from neither Wisconsin nor a coast, so sometimes I feel a bit caught in the middle. I've grown up near a big city my entire life, but was brought up by the laid-back Midwestern approach. This makes it difficult to meet other neither-here-nor-there Midwesterners with similar feelings.
For example, earlier this year a non-Cheesehead drunkenly fell next to my friend and me at a bar. When we tried to help her up and asked if she was okay, her response was, ""Yeah, I'm fine. You girls are so nice! Are you in a sorority?"" After shaking our heads, she quickly stumbled away.
But then again, I also recall telling a guy that I was from outside Chicago, who then reacted with a look of disgust. He said he didn't like that city, and when I asked why, he countered with a series of opposing questions—one being where was he supposed to park his tractor in Chicago. He may not have been a Madison student, and much more interested in agricultural matters than the average person, but a Wisconsinite nonetheless. Still I find myself siding with the Sconnies because of their overall more inviting attitude, whereas a friendship with a Coastie seems rather far-fetched.
But I don't want to feel this way—I wish this opposition didn't exist on our campus. We're all intelligent, mature individuals capable of accepting each other despite regional differences. Maybe out-of-staters don't feel sincerely welcomed or made comfortable in this new environment, so out of defense, stick together. Or maybe people from the state aren't sure how to react to these metropolitan ""visitors."" Both sides need to make an effort to learn about the place and people surrounding them if they want to make the best out of these four or more years here. Assimilation is necessary to form a true community of UW students.
