I’m often incensed by my peers’ behavior here. My buddies all know how I love to rant— they probably wish I’d quit talking about it. What am I talking about? I’m talking about the fact that people have a remarkable lack of spatial awareness on this campus— a problem which is easily solved. I will now elucidate the common spatial offenses in their most common environments, pathways and dining halls, and then propose solutions.
Pathways
Left from Right: Why do some people not walk on the right? Most do, but many — too many — do not. Maybe it’s Brits, but I have faith in their ability to adopt different conventions. Usually phones have something to do with it, which brings us to… Distracted Drivers: People think they can walk on a path looking at their phone during passing periods. They selfishly forsake the spatial comfort of others for their flashy screens, emblematic of greater ills of our generation, pathetic behavior like this typifies the problem at hand. The Clothes Line: You get a group of three or more friends and they are shoulder to shoulder, taking up the whole path. The one on the end who’s about to collide into you is either a distracted driver, or so engrossed in conversation that they can’t be bothered to look in front of them. They force you to get out of the way. The Ecosystem: There are more than just pedestrians on paths: there are also skateboarders, bikes, and, worst of all, scooters. They can go faster and take up more space than a pedestrian, disclosing them as particularly bothersome. On a personal note, electric versions of these vehicles irk me. Fast, lazy, and dangerous.
Dining Halls
Scooping the Food: It shouldn’t take more than five seconds to scoop a single serving of rice, beef stew or orange chicken onto your plate — yet it routinely does take longer for many students. The self server is lackadaisical and nonchalant, and the reason we must endure sprawling, lethargical lines in the dining hall. The Meanderer: This individual might have earbuds in. They don’t acknowledge other humans as they saunter from station to station to see that their ends are met. Maybe moving fast, maybe moving slow, but regardless, in the way. The Spacer-Outer: In contrast to The Meanderer, this individual is typically sedentary. They will text someone, wrestle with gastronomic indecision, or simply ponder. Expectant diners are forced around them like a stream encountering a boulder. Red Zones: Behind the utensils at Ross and near the drinks at Proc and Atwater exist high traffic areas that demand attention at rush hour, but still attract the aforementioned characters.
Look Up
If you’ve made it this far, I want to tell you this: I know how I sound. My dad called me a curmudgeon when I told him about my consternation. But I believe we can change this campus for the better. Think of what humans have accomplished before: the Autobahn, a German highway with drivers so disciplined there is no need for a speed limit; the Hajj, where millions of muslims circumambulating the Kaaba manage to kiss the black stone; Precision walking in Japan, where participants elevate walking to a kaleidoscopic affair. If they can do that, we can walk well on campus– and here’s how: Look up. Be mindful. It doesn’t take much explaining– these simple ideas power the three incredible aforementioned feats of mankind.
It might sound silly, but if those walking up Chapel Hill during a passing period looked up, we’d notice. And if everyone in Proc at dinner rush was truly mindful, we might start a revolution.
