This is my column and I don't care if you like it.

That said, I would like to take the time to point out a few
things. Everyone always talks about "what freshmen need to know"
when they come to college: how to avoid getting lost, being
irresponsible, etc. However, I have more of a problem with
upperclassmen than freshmen.

Here are a few tips for the forgetful upperclassman about how to
be successful at OU: There is a stop sign at the bottom of the Elm
Avenue parking facility. A stop sign. That means STOP.

It does not mean "come screaming down the ramp at thirty miles
an hour and pay no attention whatsoever to oncoming traffic."

When you turn west onto Boyd from Classen, you don't need to
stop and watch the traffic in the other lane. There is a sign that
says "Clear Right Turn." Read it. It means you can turn without
stopping.

When crossing the street in a non-crosswalk area, don't walk out
in front of cars and expect them to stop. Also, if you just have to
cross the street RIGHT THEN, try to walk a little faster than
negative 40 miles an hour, and don't turn and glare at the driver
as if they have no right to be there.

When walking to class, don't congregate with five of your best
friends and walk down the sidewalk side by side. This blocks the
paths of people trying to get by, and it is just plain
annoying.

Speaking of annoying, if you decide to stop and talk to someone,
take two tiny steps to the side and get off of the sidewalk. Don't
stand in the middle of it and give people dirty looks when they
push by.

If you are riding a bike, try and have the courtesy to at least
try to avoid hitting pedestrians. When you do accidentally clip
someone or hook your handlebars on their backpack, shout an 'I'm
sorry" over your shoulder, even if you don't mean it.

If you are in the path of someone riding a bike, please don't
expect them to move out of your way. They are traveling at a much
greater speed, and staring them down and refusing to move will not
be very successful.

Don't argue with the "South Oval Religious Zealots" and expect
to have an intelligent debate. Standing there yelling about your
own personal experience and opinions will not change the mind of
someone set on sparking discourse.

We all want to be thought of as intelligent and a deep,
philosophical and eloquent, etc. But you know that one really
annoying person who raises their hand a gives a five-minute speech
every time the instructor makes a statement? Don't be him or her.

Finally, if there is one last piece of advice that I can give
any college student, it would be to not be taken in by mindless
fashion trends. If "everyone" else on campus is sporting a certain
style, copying them does not make you cool.

College is about finding your own unique voice and figuring out
how to use it, not about following the crowd.

In conclusion, I love my university. I love everyone who goes to
my university because no matter how annoying or rather silly they
are, they are still a Sooner and that makes them OK in my book.

But making an effort to be more conscientious to your fellow
Sooners isn't that hard; it is a common courtesy. So, go Sooners!
Make me proud!

--Diana Crowson is a journalism junior. Her column appears
online every other Monday. She can be reached at
opinion@ou.edu.
hello there & you too