Opinions

Kathleen and Melissa’s Take: Hallway etiquette needs improvement

Kathleen Siegmund and Melissa Jung • September 28, 2012

This is not England. We don’t drive on the left side of the road. Although this seems self-evident, there seems to be a little cultural confusion happening in our hallways.

This is America. We drive on the right side of the road; therefore people should walk on the right side of the hallways. This isn’t exactly rocket science.

The amount of traffic jams in the hallways is ridiculous and unnecessary, but easily avoidable. Here are our top tips for being a functional hallway commuter:

1. Use your common sense. As we mentioned earlier, we drive on the right side of the road. Stick to the right side of the hallway when walking. It is unnecessary to walk in a line taking up the entire hallways or staircase, without making room for other commuters going the opposite way. We get it, you have friends. God forbid they leave your side for a mere six minutes. If someone is trying to walk in your pathway, someone has to move. Be the bigger person. Just move out of the way.

2. Keep your hands to yourself. Passing periods take up only 36 minutes of your 24 hour day. Is it really necessary to spend every waking minute all over your significant other? For those of you who aren’t sure, the answer is NO. Although you might be very happy with your relationship, no one else wants to see it so graphically displayed every time they go to their next class. Holding hands is fine, as long as it doesn’t inhibit your ability to walk. Speaking of keeping hands to yourself, don’t shove underclassmen either. That’s rude. They’re littler than you.

3. Learn to love the wall. There is no reason to take up half the hallway to chat up your friends. Just stand near the lockers, and nobody will get hurt.

4. Don’t stop traffic. Really. We have places to be.

5. When in doubt, treat others the way you would want to be treated in the hallway (or anywhere). The world will be a happier, more peaceful place.

If the students of MHS can learn to follow these few simple rules, the hallways will be a place of harmony rather than a jungle. We applaud those of you who already possess common hallway courtesy.

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About the Contributors

Kathleen Siegmund, Copy Editor and Webmaster

Kathleen is a senior, and this is her third and final year on staff. In addition to newspaper, Kathleen is member of Model UN, Key Club and YCC. Outside of the classroom, she loves reading, watching television, politics, perusing YouTube and all things British. Kathleen also loves traveling and hopes to visit more places in the world. She adores too many TV programs to pick just one. Her top favorites, though, are Doctor Who, The West Wing, 30 Rock, Sherlock, Arrested Development and Fawlty Towers (but really, she also loves Bones, Frasier, The Simpsons, How I Met Your Mother, Avatar...) . If Kathleen could only eat one thing in whole world for the rest of her life, it would definitely be sourdough bread (especially from Boudin Bakery!). Though she wouldn't say no to a Portillo's Italian beef and eclair cake. Kathleen plans on going to university next fall somewhere far away from St. Louis to study international relations, which will hopefully help her to decrease world suck someday. Her favorite part of the newspaper is working with all the staff members and seeing people read the paper when it comes out. DFTBA!

Melissa Jung, Features Editor and Webmaster

Melissa is a senior and this is her third year on staff. At MHS, she is also involved in Marquette Theatre Company as the historian, and she is a member of the St. Louis Cappies and the International Thespian Society. She is also a part of Key Club, National Honor Society, and French Honor Society. Outside of MHS, she is especially involved in her youth group and is still a Girl Scout. She has an awesome job working with kids and her hobbies include reading, writing, taking pictures, listening to music, and going to concerts -- she fangirls all the time. Melissa loves so much food, especially barbecue. She doesn't watch much TV, but when she does, it's marathons - either of Intervention, Boy Meets World, or Say Yes to the Dress. She has grown to love so much about newspaper, but the best thing is probably the friendships she has made through it. Melissa is still deciding what her future plans will be, but she wants to help people. She's cool she swears.