When it comes to eating in class, there are a few ways to keep yourself from being a distraction. As we try to fit more and more into our busy schedules, the time to fit in a meal just never seems to present itself. The beautiful thing about our campus here at California State University, Stanislaus is that most of the faculty really don’t have any issues with food in the classroom. However, this is not the case at all colleges. In fact I have attended campuses where entire buildings have no food or drink regulations. It is our responsibility as students to make sure that we are thankful and respectful with our food in the classroom. We don’t want to lose this wonderful privilege. Here are a few suggestions from someone who has learned the hard way.
Avoid wrappers like the plague; take the time before class to simply shed as many of the wrappers as possible. Try not to get snacks that have individual wrappers. Use a little forethought and ask yourself if your snack would be disruptive. One aspect of preparing for class is opening canned beverages before the start of class. Nothing disrupts a lecture more than the sound of a fresh energy drink popping open; it screams “I’m falling asleep” to the instructor and the rest of the class. Anything like potato chips or crackers that have a high volume crunch should also be avoided. The sound of you chomping away can be very disruptive to those around you, not to mention the ridiculous amount of smells that come with foods.
Just take a few extra seconds before making your purchase to ask yourself, “Will I be a distraction with this snack?” Just this simple task can change how your professor remembers who you are. You can be another student in the crowd or you can be the student who is always disrupting the class and eating chips; the choice is yours.