The Concordian

As a senior here at Concord University, I feel that I’ve figured out how things work around here. For the most part, it is pretty easy to recognize certain schedules as they develop. One such schedule that I have noticed is that of our maintenance crew.

            We aren’t called “The Campus Beautiful” just because we are vain. We truly have a striking campus. Not only does our location contribute to this, but also the cleanliness of our campus. Our maintenance crew must also be praised for the job that it does on manicuring our lawns.

            There is a problem however, that I feel needs to be addressed. While our lawns are attractive, it comes at a price to both students and professors here at Concord. There have been several occasions where I have been in a class, and the professor has to either stop speaking, or shout above the noise of a lawn mower as it passes by outside.

            I know that as students we sometimes sleep through class ( not a good idea), daydream, or doodle. It’s only natural that this happens. But after being here for almost four and a half years, I have learned the value of paying attention during class. When a professor must stop talking in order to let the lawn mower pass by, it really does affect the learning process.

            One might say, “What’s the big deal? It is only for a few minutes, and usually not more that once a week, if that often.” While this may sometimes be the case, it is still a distraction to both the teacher who is lecturing, and the students who are trying to listen.

            I feel that there is an amicable solution to this problem. I know that our maintenance crews usually work from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., unless there is some sort of problem on campus that requires attention after hours. My solution is this. On the days that our lawns need mowed, those who will be doing it should come in three hours later in the morning, and mow our lawns sometime after 4 p.m.

            Granted, there are night classes here on campus, and it still poses a problem for them, but the majority of the students here on campus would not be distracted by the roar of a lawn mower. Our professors would not lose their train of thought, we would not fail to hear something that would most assuredly be on an exam just because we could not hear it, and our lawns would still look beautiful.

            Of course, it is quickly approaching fall time, and the season for mowing lawns will soon be past. In fact, our maintenance crews my have already started getting the machines ready for winter. The fact still remains however, that this will still be a problem in semesters to come.

            While it is not a problem that requires swift action, I feel like it should still be addressed. The solution is really quiet simple, if only it is enacted.

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