Well, we're deep in the middle of FYSOP week and so far reports of community service-related casualties have been encouragingly low. After all, what helps freshmen adjust to college faster than four miserable days of selflessness?

Currently, the lucky students are parading around senior centers and soup kitchens, while the ones who drew the short straws are doing fine work in Charlestown and Southie.

Hopefully, all the good things done by idealism won't be immediately undone by hard social realities and even harder gunfire, but don't hold your breath. Actually, don't hold anything - you never know what police officers might mistake for a gun these days.