Every school has its own rules. Some are written in a handbook, while others are unspoken, passed down through class years and traditions. At Concord Academy, for instance, most students know to avoid stepping on the seal in the Main School Lobby (MSL), as they risk triggering a curse that will supposedly prevent them from graduating. However, there are some specific situations students may confront at CA that leave them wondering what to do. Here’s a look at a few of them.
What is the proper etiquette for a class to take over an area of the campus? In the fall of 2024, the Upper Stu-Fac area near the Academic Office was renovated into a lounge with sofas and a ping pong table for all to enjoy. Immediately, the freshmen class of 2028 began to use this common area more frequently, unofficially naming it the “freshmen section.” Although it was unwritten, the boundaries were clear: this was their territory. But how long can they keep it? Will the new freshmen try to reclaim it throughout the year, or has the Upper Stu-Fac been permanently claimed by those who got there first? My guess is that the freshmen will integrate into the new space, removing ownership from a specific class. But, in reality, only the course of time will be able to produce an answer to these questions.
Picture this: you’ve finished lunch and realize your next class in the MAC starts very soon. You scramble to clean up — only to be trapped behind someone using the first compost bin while the second sits empty. Nothing is more frustrating than this unnecessary moment of delay. So, is it ever acceptable to use the first compost bin when the second one is free? Absolutely not. It is not proper CA etiquette.
As a day student who constantly runs out of phone battery and often forgets to bring a charger, it’s frustrating not to be able to use my phone when I need it. Fortunately, Martha Kennedy’s charging station in the library is a lifesaver. That said, its popularity makes it very competitive, and it can lead to some tough decision-making. The question is: what is the appropriate battery charging threshold to deliberately unplug someone else’s phone? At first, it may seem inappropriate to do this, but sometimes it is justified. For instance, if you need to text your parents for pick-up, check the train schedule, or submit an assignment that is due in five minutes, the urgency might outweigh the etiquette. A fair rule of thumb could be 70 percent for regular use, and 30 percent in an emergency.
Furthermore, every morning after chapel or announcements, students rush to grab their belongings from the MSL, creating a daily traffic jam. Some students shove through; others stand frozen in the crowd. Inevitably, this chaos culminates when a group of students decides to stop moving and talk with one another. You utter, “Excuse me!” as you try to pass by them, but the noise surrounding you masks your words, leaving you standing hopelessly in between all the other students. I think it is pretty clear that people should not stop to talk in the middle of such traffic; it is a direct violation of CA etiquette.
Finally, one more dilemma revolves around the Stu-Fac toaster. When does it become acceptable to steal an unattended bagel from the toaster? At first, it may seem totally unacceptable. Who would do such a thing? After delicately placing the bagel in the toaster and coming back a few minutes later, expecting a nice, crunchy piece of bread, it may seem outrageous to see that it has been stolen. However, some CA students argue that stealing an abandoned bagel is okay. So, it is important to establish another etiquette threshold. If a bread is undoubtedly cold or has been lying there for several minutes, it is not unreasonable.
There are many other subtle, seemingly trivial social dilemmas that are still left unanswered. I hope that this article serves as a way to address a few of them.