Liam searches through the mazelike art-deco pillars of the University Centre's student lounge, finding only little clusters of students busily bitching about the professors whose classes they're skipping. Turning past a blue-on-blue optical illusion he didn't notice before, he sees her. "...that's all well and good, but you've got to admit that a liberal arts education is practically worthless; you're wasting your time here." Elizabeth is half-lying with one leg spread between her and a blonde-haired girl wearing purple all the way to her neck, sitting at the other end of the sofa. She clutches her Ancient Civilizations textbook and closes her eyes before answering. "It's not that simple: I'm doing this to broaden my horizons." "Come on! What are you learning here that you can't learn on your own?" Elizabeth folds her arms triumphantly. "The courses help provide direction for your study; to make sure you study the right things." Elizabeth visibly shudders with restraint. "Okay... well, wouldn't it be cheaper to learn it on your own?" "Oh, that's not a problem. I've got a full scholarship." The girl now wears a beaming smile. "And besides, the degree makes you more employable." "What do you want to do for a living, when you get out?" "I want to write; that's why I'm majoring in English." Elizabeth sits up, cradling her head in her hands. "Of course... it's the obvious thing to do. – Hi Liam; thanks for not interrupting. This is Kate." "Hi Kate." He turns to Elizabeth. "The ticket place just opened up." "Oh, good." She gets up. "Good luck with your writing." Kate perks up, no longer on the defensive. "Thanks, it's always good to hear a dissenting point of view." A few paces later, Liam asks "So, where do you know Kate from?" "About ten minutes ago."

Elizabeth and Liam come out of the combination copy centre and ticket outlet serving the campus' massive ticket-copying needs, and they discover a fortress of beer cases surrounding a table outside the Campus Convenience Store. They approach the lone soldier behind the walls, pocketing their concert tickets. "So, how much is Budweiser paying you to do this?" Elizabeth asks. "I'm volunteering for the Alcohol Awareness Association. We're promoting responsible Alcohol use," she says. "I see the promotion, but where's the awareness?" "This," the attendant gestures at the beer cases, "is the amount of beer the average University student drinks in a year." Frowning, Elizabeth asks "Couldn't they have just put up a sign? Why are you here?" The AAA-girl points to the arrangement of small, gift-wrapped boxes interspersed with condoms. "These boxes are two dollars each; you sign the tag and it says you promise not to drink and drive. Then you give it to a loved one." "What's in them?" "They're just blocks of wood. They're symbolic." Liam steps in. "How much are the condoms?" "They're free." "Sweet," he says, scooping a handful of rubber into his jacket pocket. "Can never have enough of these." He smiles at the attendant. "Yeah," Elizabeth elbows him playfully. "You never know how things might go down after badminton practice in that hot, sweaty locker room."