I’m a 21-year-old OU senior dead-set on graduating in April. For the first time in all of my years, I had to purchase something called a ‘Blue Book’ for an exam.

If you have never had to use one of these ‘Blue Books’, you should consider yourself lucky. They are the dumbest, most inconvenient invention ever devised.

These diabolical devices, they are simply pieces of notebook paper inside of a blue cover.

Why can’t I just use my notebook paper I’ve been using for the entire class? You make me go out and spend $1.29 to take a test, OU? Aren’t I already spending thousands of dollars just to be in your class?

In order to feel my pain, allow me to explain the situation I went through the day before Spring break (is that what we’re calling this weather? Spring?)

I miraculously made it to my class on time (an amazing feat, seeing as how I am afflicted with senioritis and the class is set to start at 8 a.m.) Feeling accomplished and prepared, I begin strutting toward my seat, when my classmates ask “Do you have a ‘Blue Book’?”

“Pardon me – do I have a what?” I say.

And then somebody (most likely a Peet’s Coffee and Tea fan,) told me to drop everything and run to Peet’s Coffee and Tea because they sold ‘Blue Books.’

I immediately dismissed this advice, knowing that OUSC gives them away for free, there is a vending machine that sells ‘Blue Books’ and the book store on campus also sells them.

Much to my dismay, OUSC was closed and the vending machine was out (surprise, surprise.) I had to stand in line for ten minutes with half of my class just to buy some notebook paper with a blue cover.

Do not mistake my anger for being aimed at my professor for using these ‘Blue Books’. My disgust and disfavor is aimed toward the creator of the ‘Blue Books’ themselves: Butler University.

According to the ‘Blue Book’ Wikipedia page: “Butler University (Indianapolis) was the first to introduce exam blue books. They were given a blue color because Butler’s school colors are blue and white, therefore they gave them the name “blue books.”

Here is something else I discovered: In ‘The Divine Comedy’ by Dante Alighieri, the lowest level of hell is ice. What Dante forgot to mention is that it is also lined with ‘Blue Books’.

I could go on for days. But I’ll keep my argument simple.

I already have notebook paper. Give me my $1.29 back.