In a public university such as ours, it goes without saying that people will annoy one another. However, it should also go without saying that since we must interact with so many strangers on a daily basis, we should exercise common courtesy in our dealings with them. When this code of courtesy is broken, something must be done about it. That is why, on behalf of NIU students and myself, I will attempt to point out the behaviors which violate this standard of respect and hope they can be rectified.

No. 1 – Parking lot vultures

The No. 1 most irritating behavior on my list belongs, of course, in the most frustrating area of NIU yet: the parking lot. Vultures, you know who you are. Not only do you block traffic and add to the congestion of our already overcrowded parking areas by stationing your car at the end of a row, you usually have the audacity to chew out the person who happens to pull into a spot before you do. Because you have positioned yourself there, you assume you have been in the lot longer than all the people who happen to be moving. This is unfair and extremely annoying. If every car were to stake claim on an area of the lot as you do, there would be no room for anyone to get by. Please move on, like everybody else who paid the same exorbitant amount of money as you did for a parking pass.

No. 2 – Avid cell phone users

Are you a firefighter, police officer or about to give birth? If not, don’t let your cell phone ring in class and by all means do not talk on it! This also goes for the library, computer labs and other areas for studying. I once had a professor who would give the entire class a pop quiz every time a phone went off, and after my math class this semester, I can see why. Every day in lecture, phones ring loudly, and some people even go so far as to answer them. When I am in the computer lab, I have to tune out the people who loudly drone on their phones for no other purpose than to remedy their boredom. If you have urgent use for your phone, please acknowledge the ‘No Cell Phones Allowed’ signs (all over the computer labs and library) and kindly take your conversation elsewhere.

No. 3 – Hallway plodders

Every time I am rushing between classes through DuSable Hall, I feel as though I am stuck in Florida traffic: Just when there is a nice steady flow of cars going 60 mph, there is always someone who cuts in going 20 mph. And in DuSable, the most congested building on campus, people also like to walk right in front of one another and just stop. I beg of you, please do not do this – I am not equipped with a horn and may be inclined to simply plow you over.

If you recognize yourself in any of these categories, it’s not too late to just move on and make everyone else around you a heck of a lot happier. I sure would appreciate it.

Columns reflect the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of the Northern Star staff.