September 5, 1999, a day that will forever remain etched in my memory as the day I threw the cookie.

My confession on this page will not right my actions and is not intended to convict an ill-tempered cookie-handler. My intention is to review the events of the tragic encounter so similar debacles can be avoided in the future.

It all started Sunday evening. I was browsing the various salad bars and entree islands at South Dining Hall when I noticed something new. Fresh baked cookies, oatmeal-rasin.

You can imagine my delight to discover such a wonderful addition to SDH's food selection. I saw the dessert and reached for it. I could feel the soft warmness of the fresh baked morsel and as I lifted it from under the heat lamp my utopia came crashing down.

"Will you wait until I'm done!" the vile voice bellowed at me, full of anger and disrespect. "You're supposed to use this, not your hands!" the SDH student-worker said maliciously as he raised a spatula in my direction.

I was distraught. What had I done? I had simply reached for a cookie with my hand while this young man was unloading the oatmeal-rasin goodness from the hot cookie sheet.

I searched my memory for an explanation but found none. I could not recall my father opening a bag of Oreos and neatly serving himself with a pancake flipper and Mom didn't serve Rice Krispies treats with tongs. I was dumbfounded but I was also mad.

I felt my temperature rise, my back tense and my jaw tighten. At that point I stopped thinking ... and threw the cookie.

It was not a Ryan Express fastball and it was not intended to maim. It was simply a protest, a very immature and ill-directed protest, but a symbolic protest at that.

As the projectile flew it carried with it my anger and sadness as well as my poor judgement. I had not been scolded in that manner since middle school and even then I think I had cut off my cat's whiskers, or something which warranted a scolding.

Why did this university student/employee feel the need to attack me with such an aggressive tone. A simple, "Hey man, let me finish unloading the precious cargo and use this spatula. For health reasons we ask that you use utensils to serve yourself."

I do believe the entire conflict would have been avoided had I been approached in this manner.

I also believe the entire conflict would have been avoided had I relaxed and walked away from the situation. But I didn't and now I have regrets.

I regret the way I acted. I regret that I failed to be kind and understanding towards another person and I am saddened that so many of us have forgotten about service with a smile and respect for others.

I was once myself a dining hall employee and I understand the amount of stress and irritation that comes with the job. I am and will forever be a wandering cafeteria patron, surveying the Jell-o and enjoying all-I-can-eat buffets. I promise from now on to use utensils when serving myself and to respect the often disgruntled student employee of our hallowed dining halls.

• I did it all for the cookie