Abhi PandyaIt’s the beginning of a new academic year. Campus is bustling with lost firsties running to classes and upper years strolling with as much vigor as they can, in spite of their senioritis.
Whichever category you may identify with, here are the top five campus etiquette rules that everyone should either follow or risk being heavily side-eyed.
1: Do not take up the entire sidewalk
Campus is not the place to practice your “walking away from an explosion” acting. Do NOT walk in a horizontal line of four and block the entire sidewalk if other people are coming towards you. Be polite and have one or two people step behind the rest of the group. This allows others to walk by without either crashing into one of you or stepping into the muddy grass.
2: Why are you cutting in front of me and slowing down?
Seriously, why? If you’re rushing to class and cut in front of someone and keep walking faster, that’s valid and I support you. But if you cut in front of someone and proceed to slow down, you deserve to have the backs of your shoes stepped on.
3: Wipe the damn machine, Chad
The gym is especially crowded around this time of the year with people beginning their New School Year Resolutions. While this can be frustrating, it doesn’t mean you can skip out on wiping down equipment you’ve used before snagging the next open machine. You know who you are, Chad. I will spray you with the bottle, Chad.
4: Let people off the bus
I get it, the bus can be packed and smelly and loud, making it a particularly soul-draining experience. However, if you’re sitting in the aisle seat, be a decent person and stand up to let the window seat person off at their stop. If you simply turn your legs to the side then it’s your own fault if you get hit in the face by a full backpack.
5: Please stop smoking everywhere.
Stop smoking 10 feet away from doors. If you READ THE SIGNS, it actually says you need to be 10 METRES away from the door to smoke. Also, it’s pretty inconsiderate to smoke while you’re walking around and condemning the people who walk behind you to inhale your second hand smoke. Just saying.
Bonus: Save your pickup lines for the bar. No one pays $500 to sit in a lecture and get second-hand embarrassment from hearing you try to flirt.
