Embarrassing moments on campus we definitely don’t miss

The many reasons why Zoom university isn’t all that bad 

Taylor DeGuzman / Arts & Culture Editor

You may think singing during  a Zoom class while your mic was on, or pinning someone’s screen while wearing blue light glasses, clearly showing their reflection, was embarrassing; but imagine how many embarrassing things happen in person. Even though USD’s campus is small, the embarrassing moments that happen are larger than life and most of the time unforgettable — especially by your best friends. Here are some of the top seven most embarrassing moments on campus you definitely don’t miss. 

1. Dropping that glorious white SLP plate in front of a “live studio audience” 

It’s a beautiful Wednesday evening, yet another holiday-themed SLP dinner, and the aromas of every food station fill the air, signaling you to grab at least two plates full of food for your first round through. Juggling your HydroFlask, phone, and gluten-free cookies in one hand and two plates in another, you walk slowly out of line and toward your table. Just when you thought being a waitress over the summer finally paid off, your plate full of chow mein, orange chicken, and shrimp fried rice comes crashing to the ground and the whole entire SLP goes silent. Suddenly, deafening applause and cheers that mimic a live studio audience make you the center of attention. Even worse, your friends are laughing just as hard as everyone else. 

2. Waving at someone in Colachis Plaza who wasn’t waving at you 

Nothing beats waving excitedly at someone who was absolutely not waving at you. During Torero Hours, everyone and their mother are out on the Colachis lawn and walking around the plaza to meetings, their next class, or to sunbathe and catch up with friends in between classes. Because so many people are out in the plaza, students randomly bump into friends or see them walking in the distance. However, more often than not, we tend to get excited whenever we see someone waving to us, and because we are always the center of attention, we assume that they must be waving at us — wrong. It always happens to be the person behind us or even beside us that is supposed to receive the greeting. 

The best you can do is own it and pretend it never happened, even though everyone totally watched it happen.  

3. Bumping into you-know-who getting SLP breakfast

It’s the morning after, and you’re starving for some good ol’ tots, muffins, spring rolls, blueberry waffles, and scrambled eggs. While waiting in line at Sea Salt Grille, you suddenly hear, “Oh hey,” from a distinct voice. Instantly you recognize it’s you-know-who. Of course they would be getting SLP breakfast at the exact same time as you. 

4. Making everyone get off the tram just so you can get out 

Ah yes, the trams. Everyone’s favorite form of transportation. After all seats are taken, students fill the aisles and pack the tram like sardines in a can in order to make it to class with seconds to spare. The only downside to packing the tram is that whenever you’re the only one exiting the tram for a drop-off location that no one else is leaving at, and you’re seated in the middle or the back, you have to make everyone standing get off the tram in order for you to leave. The worst part is that there are at least 15 people standing that eye you and give you the most disapproving looks as you hop off the tram. It’s probably the last time you use the tram for a while. 

5. Missing the tram, walking into class late, Starbucks in hand 

Desperate times call for desperate measures. 8 a.m. classes are never fun to attend, especially when you spent the night before procrastinating until 6 a.m. The only fix: Starbucks down the hill. The only problem: making it to class on time while still being able to get your Starbucks. You try to catch the tram to the west side of campus, but end up missing it. That’s at least a 15-minute walk, 10 minutes if you manage to speed walk and not make conversation with random people you bump into. Either way, walking into class late is inevitable. The worst part is all the head turns and up-and-down looks you get when you walk into class 15 minutes later, clearly because of the Venti iced Americano in your hand.  

6. Walking up the Harry Potter Room steps 

During midterms, and especially during finals season, the Harry Potter Room in Copley Library is the place to be. Even though many students flock here to study, it still remains the quietest place on campus. Merely breathing seems to disrupt the quiet space. While a lot of desks and study spaces are on the first floor of the Harry Potter Room, many more desks for two to four people are located on the second floor. It is the most awkward feeling to walk up the creaky stairs, Birkenstocks squeaking or Converse loudly tapping the floor, and try not to catch a glimpse of everyone in the Harry Potter Room stopping to watch as you quite loudly climb the stairs, only to find out that all desks are full and you have to make your way back down.  

7. Flinching during class because you’re falling asleep 

Many forget the reality of in-person classes: being in person and in front of actual people, not just screens. Whereas online it is easy to zone out or turn off your screen, there is no room to check out without your professor noticing. 

After all-nighters or a tiring weekend, it’s so easy to close your eyes just for two seconds while your professor has their back turned. However, closing your eyes for two seconds means falling asleep, and having those dreams where you’re jumping out of a plane or getting hit in the face. 

Because of these “jump scare” dreams, you flinch the hardest you’ve ever flinched before, flailing your arms and body, in front of everyone and especially your professor who is well aware of what just happened.