Hallway Etiquette: How to Fix Crowded Hallways

Written by Amy Pham

Please, move. 

Call me Ms. Manners if you absolutely must, but lately I’ve been noticing an increase in crowded hallways- especially that of students who like to prop themselves directly in front of entry ways thus making my maneuvering from one end of the building to another that much more difficult. Perhaps, it may not be the most polite thing in the world. 

I can recall numerous situations in which I either stood in front of a group of students blocking the door or tried to open a door from the other side, and in both scenarios I found myself being looked at awkwardly by a very unhappy group of people. I am no fan of awkward blank stares as much as the next person, and I wish to propose a series of possible solutions. 

Solution Number One: Find a chair. Now the chair could be in a myriad of places including class rooms or the cafeteria. It offers a variety of possibilities that may make huddling in a group that much more enjoyable. 

Chairs can be moved around to create almost any shape thus offering the ultimate conversational experience or the means for a good staring contest, whatever you’re into. 

Solution Number Two: Be early to class. We are in school to receive the best education we can, and being an over-achiever and getting to class early may be better than standing in front of a door with your friends. This serves its advantages in allowing you to have extra time to be organized and to mentally prepare for the next hour-and-a-half of your day. And, as an added bonus, there are chairs in class rooms too. So not only are you able to create a conversation circle with your friends, but you can possibly score some extra points with your teacher. 

Solution Number Three: Remove yourself from all possible intersections. I love standing in large groups with my friends, and I know the conversation can get pretty interesting and intesne. I would really hate being bothered and interrupted all the time by frequent passersby who need to use the door I’m blocking or those who hit me with the door from the opposite side. So, perhaps avoiding traffic-heavy areas would be a novel idea to avoid such hindrances. 

All of these solutions are ways for this problem to be rectified. Hallway traffic will diminish. Doors will be free for everyone to enter and leave through. And awkward blank stares will decrease significantly. 

Because, honestly, I really just need to get by, and you’re in my way. 

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