'Slow-walking people' on campus need to pick up pace

Going to class is not on my list of favorite things to do, but seeing as I am a student, I think it's nice to make an appearance every once in a while. Speed walking doesn't top the list of favorite activities either, but that doesn't mean I have to be late because you don't feel like moving.

You know who you are. You dawdle to class. You walk with three other people across the sidewalk. You stop short on the street to look around. You ponder life's deep questions on your way from Kern Building to Hammond Building. You, and no one else, have an unlimited time to get from one place to another. It is OK for you to walk into an exam late. You don't mind crawling over people to get to the last remaining seat. You don't have any classes that have more students than seats. And you like walking really slowly because the crisp, below-zero air is unusually refreshing.

I wouldn't call SWPs (that's slow-walking people) the biggest problem at Penn State by any means, but it is a problem nonetheless. And it is one that we, the students, along with the University can solve together.

"We Are Penn State" isn't just an annoying chant, it is a metaphor for teamwork and cooperation.

Perhaps the University should build hallways and stairwells that can accommodate for the actual number of students who attend class. Let me give that to you in a math problem: 500 people are leaving Theatre 100 in the Forum with 15 minutes to get to class. As they exit, roughly 200 people are waiting to get into the same classroom (the other 300 people are experiencing this same problem in Willard Building).

If the University was kind enough to donate some of the HUB expansion workers to renovate the classroom buildings, we could probably do something in return. Why don't we help cut down on the amount of cars cruising around campus? If you live off campus or in East Halls, walk, don't get chauffeured. As for the rest of the cars, I have no idea where they come from.

I never figured Middleofnowhere, Pa., would resemble rush hour in New York, but maybe there is a really great lunch special at Eat 'N Park during the week. If that's the case, why travel when you can enjoy a wonderful dining experience in the dining commons conveniently located all over campus?

Maybe another way to get me to class on time (No, sorry, I mean everyone to class on time, especially professors.) is for the University to extend the break time in between classes from 15 minutes to 20. Sounds simple, doesn't it? I'm personally willing to compensate for the break increase by having shorter classes. Or, we can choose where we, not the registrar, would like to take our classes so they are as close to each other as possible.

On my return trip from fantasy land, I came up with some suggestions that don't involve massive reconstruction. This is in our hands now, so pay attention. Invest in a pair of sneakers: If you save the prom shoes for the prom, you'll be able to move a little bit faster.

If you have nowhere to be, if you enjoy observing nature on your way to class, if you like to play a little game with yourself to see how slow you can walk without actually stopping, that's fine. If that's the case, simply refer back to your driver's ed manual: Slow-moving traffic should stay to the right to allow for other vehicles (or students) to pass you. Just think how these simple steps can make going to class a more enjoyable experience.

In short, enjoy your walk to class. But don't enjoy it too much: Some of us have plans.