The semester is winding down, students are pulling all-nighters wrapping up end-of-the-year projects and tests, and this week’s Thanksgiving break will give students that little pit stop needed before tackling the beasts that are final exams.With around 30,000 students enrolled in the University, everyone will celebrate this holiday differently.If you’re like me, your Thanksgiving consists of family, eating turkey, watching football, eating more turkey, naps on the couch and finally complaining about how full you are of all the turkey you just ate.But some people like to spend Thanksgiving in other ways — such as inside a tent camped outside of their favorite retail store.The Friday after Thanksgiving, known as “Black Friday,” is a day when most retail stores have large sales and discounts for consumers to kick off the holiday shopping season.The exact origin of the term “Black Friday” is a tad fuzzy, but this shopping holiday has gained notoriety among consumers and retailers alike since 2000.Many believe the term originated as an accounting phrase. People believe most retail stores are financially in the “red” (or losing money) for a majority of the year, and the big sales numbers brought in on this particular Friday help push those numbers into the “black” (or positive profits).Many stores open at 5 a.m. or earlier, running special “doorbuster” deals for those dedicated enough to camp outside in the cold (or here in Louisiana, somewhat warm) weather.I have always refused to leave my couch — or, most recently, Tiger Stadium — on “Black Friday” because of the LSU-Arkansas football game every year played that afternoon. Also, no sale is worth fighting off the horde of crazed consumers.But this year, I get to experience my first “Black Friday” — except I won’t be spending it as a shopper. I will be spending the holiday as an employee.That said, I strongly urge those who will participate in this frenzy of a shopping experience to remember where your head is.A Long Island Wal-Mart employee was trampled to death last year as customers broke through the glass doors minutes upon the store’s 5 a.m. opening. Many workers were trampled by the mob, but it was 34-year-old Jdimytai Damour who lost his life that day.I realize the holiday season can be a stressful time for people, and that $200 laptop or $450 HDTV might make your mouth water, but it’s not worth someone’s life so you can save a few bucks.Every year, there are numerous stories of store tramplings, fights and even gun shots over items during a one-day sale.If you’re determined enough to save money on that laptop or TV you’ve always wanted, then by all means pitch your tent outside your favorite store and wait until those doors officially open.But the one thing everyone in that line needs to remember is there are many other tents in front of or behind yours, and many of your parking-lot campers are running on short tempers and little sleep.Be considerate not only to your fellow shoppers but also the stores’ employees — they are there to assist the customers and also keep   everyone under control.If you’re in line early enough, you’ll get what you’ve been waiting to buy. If you end up at the end of the line, don’t push or fight because someone got there earlier than you — use this as a lesson for next year.This Friday will be a new experience for me. I hope my customers aren’t too rowdy of a group and I’ll survive to write next week’s column.But you never know — some people will kill to get that shiny new PSPgo for Little Jimmy.Adam Arinder is a 20-year-old electrical engineering junior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_aarinder.
 
 
 
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