Published 2010-11-30T16:04:00Z”/>
Alexander Seymour
It is important to keep the worlds of work and play from colliding.
That’s why we don’t add our teachers as friends on Facebook or get drunk while doing homework – or at least why we know we shouldn’t. Common sense and lessons learned prove that these things lead to trouble.
This semester, worlds are starting to collide on campus. Every week it seems like a different organization uses the new awning next to the Student Services Center as a party promotion headquarters with Rockstar signs and water-pong tables abound. This in itself is tolerable, but unfortunately they don’t skimp on the stereo systems.
More frequently, studying outside on campus is like trying to get homework done while living in a party house. At least tenants in a party house know what they are getting themselves into.
There are many who enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the Chico campus and unless they like studying or napping to T-Pain or Lady Gaga, the grassy areas around Glenn Hall, Taylor Hall and Meriam Library are now off-limits.Some students have even complained of hearing music while inside their classrooms or the library.
Considering that there are many bars and an active nightlife in the downtown area, there is little need to sacrifice Chico State’s natural beauty for more of the same.
While it is possible that the music pumps people up on the way to their exams, students like senior Ruskin Landreth would prefer a more calming influence right before a midterm.
“I don’t get pumped up, I get annoyed,” Landreth said.
Some of this noise pollution comes from Trinity Commons, where the bass can be heard at least once a week from inside the library. However, it’s unwise to pass restrictions on Trinity Commons, or what was once called the “free speech area,” as limiting what can be done or said in the name of free speech quickly becomes hypocritical and destroys the notion of having that space in the first place.
It is more sensible to condemn the noise around the rest of the university because getting from the southern edge of campus to Sutter Hall involves running a gauntlet of sensory overflow that has recently broached on the ridiculous.
No one should have to deal with listening to the “Rick Roll” blasted on repeat at high decibels for a whole day, as was done by KCSC student radio on campus a couple weeks ago.
That song is barely tolerable when it is used as an Internet prank – looping it for hours is a crime against humanity.
This obnoxious display had long-term psychological consequences for those unlucky enough to be on campus that day – Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” was stuck cycling in my head for the rest of the week. I definitely lost sleep over it and had to overwrite Astley with the only thing more virulent – Lady Gaga, which proved counter-productive.
I can only imagine what the consequences were for the poor souls manning the KCSC radio booth and the other advertisers in the Merriam-Butte walkway – they had to hear it all day.
With academic crunch time upon students, it is terrible timing for organizations to use the areas around campus to advertise in this way.
I understand that it’s difficult to get the word out, but by cranking up the volume on the university grounds, promoters are making negative and annoying impressions on potential clientele.
Alexander Seymour can be reached at
