Invasion of Privacy: Dom Petrucci
There are many types of people who attend Geneseo; some students are more reserved while others are more outgoing. Political Science major sophomore Dom Petrucci is outgoing and has the reputation now of barking at students. Yes, barking. Petrucci explained via an email interview why he began barking, the tone he uses to bark and students’ responses.
“I’m not entirely sure that I ever made a conscious decision to begin barking at people, but there are certainly many reasons why I bark at people,” said Petrucci. “I periodically bark at people just because they are in my vicinity. I bark at my friends to get their attention and to let them know it is me. I bark at people because they are engaging in some manner of unsavory behavior, and so on.”
Petrucci also explained that the tone in which he barks elicits different student responses.
“I have also put some thought into the tone and duration of my barking. I have found that low-pitched, guttural barks like those of a retriever garner a more negative response, while high pitched, short, yappy barks, like those of a chihuahua, are received better,” said Petrucci. “I have overwhelmingly adopted this chihuahua-like method.”
Petrucci also indicates the public spaces where they chose to bark on campus.
“I most often bark at people when they pass my townhouse, though anytime I see my friends (or anyone who deserves to be on the receiving end of a good bark) it’s fair game to bark at them. I’ve barked in the middle of dining halls, in acapella rehearsals, in friends’ dorms [and] even at my own parents when they visited,” said Petrucci.
Petrucci explained that his favorite aspect of barking is being contacted by students wondering about his barking.
“My favorite reactions have actually come in the form of second-hand accounts of my barking. I’ve been contacted by friends and strangers alike inquiring about the barking or informing me that someone was talking about my barking,” said Petrucci.
Petrucci also explained their least favorite student-response from barking.
“My least favorite reaction was being flipped off. If you, [the stranger who flipped me off] are reading this . . . I dearly apologize for offending or scaring you,” said Petrucci.
He explained that he may stop in the future, if he feels the need to.
“From the outset of barking at folks here at Geneseo, I have maintained that I won’t continue barking if it becomes too negatively received. While I recognize that it is an odd and rather obnoxious practice, I do belong to a community at this school, and I recognize the importance of not being a hindrance to that community,” said Petrucci. “Should the day come that my barking does form a hindrance, I will indeed stop.”
Petrucci wrote that their barking is not associated with the furry community.
“It is important to not that I do not associate my practice of barking with the furry community. While I wish no ill will toward [furry animals], and while I have had positive experiences with [furry animals] at Geneseo, I don’t identify myself, nor my actions, with that community,” said Petrucci.