A simple hello, thank you, and good morning can go a long way.

A problem with the Bakersfield College campus and the students who attend classes on here is that many seem to lack proper etiquette.

So often we find certain areas around campus to be filthy and that has a lot to do with students not picking up after themselves. The campus cafeteria is a good example of students not tending to their own mess. It can be hard to find an empty seat, let alone an empty clean one. There is always left over food on the table, napkins, and empty beverage bottles.

There should be no reason for our cafeteria to look this way when the cafeteria provides numerous trashcans inside the facility.

As students, we need to be more considerate of others and pick up our leftovers.

Most of the campus restrooms are also filthy, and this is not totally the janitorial workers responsibility to keep them clean. It is also the students’ responsibility to keep them that way.

We are adults and there is no possible explanation as to why our restrooms look the way they do. Yes, the toilet paper is free and we don’t pay for it, but don’t abuse that freedom by stuffing a whole roll inside the toilet bowls.

After one washes their hands one should throw away the paper towel inside the trashcan, not leave it thrown in the sink.

Bakersfield College also has a problem with bad manners. Others should not distract a student inside a classroom during a lecture, but it happens all the time. While it’s true that there is no such thing as a stupid question, what about the questions that have nothing to do with the lecture, or the questions that have already been answered by the professor? Many times students have to deal with these scenarios and it is not fair to them and their education.

If a student knows their question has nothing to do with the lecture, just wait until after class to ask the professor the question.

When another student is holding the door for you, don’t just walk through and say nothing. Just say thank you. It is rude for one not to acknowledge another student’s kindness. There have been several situations when students are left holding the door for others and it takes up to the fifth person to walk through for someone to say thanks. That is just horrible.

The library should be one of the quietest places on campus, but at times students can be in there making noise or are being a distraction to others trying to study or do homework.

There have also been situations in which other students have exposed themselves to others in the library.

Some of these etiquette issues around campus can be easily fixed, but it all falls in the hands of the students at Bakersfield College.

Renegade students are responsible for themselves and how they present themselves. If students on the campus would fix themselves then the belief is that the campus would be clean.

Another problem Bakersfield College is faced with is students going to class with bad hygiene.

Before one makes an effort to make it to class one should do a breath check, B.O. check, and check his clothing attire. Going to class smelling unpleasant or in unclean clothing attire only distracts students who are eager to learn.

No one wants to be distracted by awful smells.

Renegades, we need to have more pride in our campus and in ourselves. Let’s focus on fixing our values and let’s make this campus more enjoyable for those around us.