The Fall 2018 semester has begun for most college students. At Ship, this means everyone has moved back on campus and to their apartments and are now within walking distance of both Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts. Everyone has their "go to" orders at both establishments. (For yours truly, its a strawberry lemonade refresher from Starbucks or a black tea from Dunkin'.)

This article isn't about why you should/shouldn't get coffee, or tea, or any beverage or snack before class starts. I couldn't care less what you eat or drink, you do you. This article is about those of you who get your beverage and then show up to our class 20 minutes late.

It happens almost every day in every class. You get there relatively early, sit down, and the professor shuts the door and begins to lecture. For the next 20 minutes, students intermittently arrive late with fresh coffees, teas, lattes, bagels, breakfast sandwiches, and more. Each time they arrive, they knock on the door and either the professor or the poor student who sat next to the door has to get up and let them in. It is a major distraction for those of us who were able to arrive on time, with or without our coffees. The professor usually stops the lecture to make a remark about the student's tardiness, followed by a lecture about respect and how in the real world you will be fired if you don't show up on time.

After the professor begins to teach again, the late students then begin to eat, drink, (and inevitably spill) their coffees and bagels, thus causing more of a distraction.

Not only is it disrespectful to the professor, but I didn't pay my incredibly high tuition bill to have to listen to you knock on the door, be lectured, and have you chomp on your breakfast next to me.

So please, this semester please plan out your mornings better. If you absolutely need to get something to eat or drink before class, allow enough time for the long line that is there every morning. It's important for you to be on time for class, you're not going to get very much out of a 50 minute class when your 20 (or more) minutes late everyday.

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