VOL 78 /12
Sex in the University
Awkward hallway run-ins and how to avoid them
by Shana Secory
STATESMAN STAFF WRITER
You know that one person we all don't want to run into-the ex, the one night stand or the stalker. When we see them in the hall, we try not to be seen, or quickly think of a sudden move that hopefully won't be so obvious. People have dodged into bathrooms, pulled out cell phones and simply looked away.
At some point it gets ridiculous, so I ask you, "What tactics are socially acceptable to use for avoiding people? If none, what else arewe supposed to do to abstain from that uncomfortable conversation or glance that we all dread?"
"It's that thing, where you pretend not to see each other, even though you both are right there. I have even pretended to look throughmy phone," junior Melany Mayers said.
The cell phone seems to be a common socially awkward escape, but even more common is looking away and pretending like you are more interested in what the school walls are made out of.
"When you are unable to quickly pull out the cell phone, you have to awkwardly walk behind a big group of people to avoid contactand hope that they don't see you," said freshman Ravyn Gibbs. It is really hard to run into an ex when you have not completely prepared yourself for exactly what you plan on saying, but what is even worse is when you run into a one night stand that you have never seen in daylight before.
"Once I had a one night stand with a guy that I never heard from again," said sophomore Nicki Danielzuk. "Now I have to run into him by Chem. 200 almost every day. We both look away like we don't know each other."
These acts of avoidance can be seen as juvenile or immature, yet the majority of us, who are young adults, still feel the need to look away from an awkward situation. So whether you are a cell phone checker, a crowd follower or a bathroom dodger, know that you are not the only person at UMD who has made an embarrassing attempt at avoiding someone.
