Most take possibility of Earth strike in stride

The sun poured onto tables outside the University Creamery Monday that were peppered with students pausing to enjoy the beginning of spring.

High above those students, beyond the blue of the clear sky, hundreds of asteroids more than a mile wide hurtled through space, many undetected by astronomers, each with the capability of causing global destruction.

Fortunately, none of those asteroids landed on the Creamery Monday, halting the sunny afternoon, flattening Pennsylvania and causing a nuclear winter.

But with the recent announcement that a mile-wide asteroid will pass frighteningly close to Earth in 30 years, more people are beginning to look to the sky with a just touch of fear.

Originally given a one in 1,000 chance of hitting Earth, 1977 XF11 now appears to be sailing safely out of range. But what if a massive meteor was on a collision course with Earth and there was nothing we could do about it? What if, far-fetched as the idea seems, life as we know it was to end in 30 years, in the same way that the dinosaurs were probably killed 65 million years ago?

For most students, the answer is simple. They would go on living as they do, perhaps enjoying days like Monday a little more, perhaps taking a bit more time to savor their ice cream.

"If it happens, it happens," said Kevin Rise, an alumnus from the class of 1988, as he ate a spoonful of Bavarian Raspberry Crunch ice cream. "There's nothing I can do about it."

Lynn Wisloski (freshman-English), who was reading a book at one table, said she would still plan to become a writer if civilization was doomed.

"I would have to take it with a grain of salt and try to enjoy my life," she said.

Taking a break from a pastel drawing, Doug Smith (sophomore-art) said his goals would become more family oriented and less career oriented if he knew his life was limited.

"I would try to enjoy the civilization we have now while it exists," he said.

Given his current situation, Mario Tsiptsis (senior-economics) said he would not worry much about obliteration unless he had a family. But if he knew his life would end in 30 years, he said he would probably not get a job.

"If there was no future, I wouldn't think for the future," he said.

As the time of the hypothetical asteroid's impact neared, Dylan Dillaway (junior-forest management) said he would probably "go nuts."

"I would try every drug I've never taken, go skydiving without a parachute," he said.

Joe Damiani (senior-history) said he might spend his final days in a more somber way.

"I'd probably find religion again, just in case," Damiani said.

"Then again," he said, taking a sip of coffee, "It might be a wild ride."