OPINION: Grinds my gears: The Johnson Center edition

The Johnson Center is one of the first of its kind at any university in the country (photo by Gopi Raghu).

Ahh, the Johnson Center—the focal point of our beautiful campus and the biggest building that freshmen still cannot seem to find until October.

The Johnson Center is truly a one-of-a-kind building. It is a place where all of its sleeping students can dream of eating at the culinary delight that is Mein Bowl, watch movies in the classy basement theatre or study in the never-so-quiet library area upstairs.

Being an off-campus student, I spend a lot of time in the Johnson Center between classes and studying at night. And, like most students, I can get easily frustrated with what goes on there. So, I decided to compile this list—a list that details everything that grinds my gears.

Adam Woodard, a sophomore at Mason, studies communications with a concentration in journalism.

1. Table Conglomerates:

I know it is kind of confusing because of the shopping mall-type food court downstairs, but—contrary to popular belief—the upstairs is actually for studying. I do not want to say any names, but those four- or five-person-wide tables that y’all work with just can’t happen. When I am attempting to study for an upcoming exam, I do not want to be subconsciously eavesdropping on interviews or look up and see kids just lying out flat on a table. So please, do us all a favor and go to a dorm common room or study room and do…whatever it is that you do.

2. People That Sleep:

I’d like to think that this one is self-explanatory…just go home.

3. Any and All Activists:

Now that spring is upon us, North Plaza outside the Johnson Center will be flooded with every activist you can think of. From the guy who says we are all going to hell, to those lovely anti-abortion individuals who shove pictures of dead baby fetuses into our faces when we try and grab Chick-fil-A, the area outside will be an absolute zoo.

My question: why?

Everybody does the same maneuver when they see those people—they pull out a phone from their pocket, put their head down and proceed to act like they’re reading a text or taking an important call. It is the oldest trick in the book! Do activists or protesters realize all they are doing is making people less likely to help their cause—especially here at George Mason University, where ignoring is tradition?

I beg of you, just let me get my Chick-fil-A in peace and get out of the way.

4. Blowing Off ‘The Epoch Times’ Lady

This might be what grinds my gears the hardest. For those of you who don’t know, every so often campus is blessed with this sweet little Asian lady who stands outside the doors facing Robinson A. Her job is simple: not say one word, smile and pass out a newspaper publication titled The Epoch Times.

I had to do some research on this one. The Epoch Times is a multi-language international news publication that has been around since the early 2000’s. What ticks me off the most is that people just walk right by this Asian angel as if they are better than her!

This poor woman is just doing her job. Even if you’re not interested in reading the paper, at least take one and toss it in the nearest trash can like the rest of us. She gets to leave when she’s done, and I’m sure she absolutely hates people glaring at her all the time.

Let’s be real, it’s not like you are in a hurry to get food or go study for a test; chances are you are just going to mess around on Facebook and Twitter for the next three hours. I am not saying read it; I am saying help this sweet, innocent lady out.

End rant.

Opinions expressed in this column are solely the beliefs of the writer. 

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