Roaming the halls of Diamond Bar has become an awkward experience for many students. Trying to get to one’s next class has become similar to navigating a haunted maze, dodging things we don’t want to see. There has lately been an epidemic of public displays of affection (PDA) on campus, and it’s turning our school into a place of distraction rather than learning.
Couples on campus have found certain areas or “hotspots” to cuddle and share a kiss. While a simple wall may feel like enough privacy to them, it’s still a public show for everyone else. Sharing a sweet moment with your partner isn’t wrong; however, having the awareness of the right time and place needs to be brought to everyone’s attention. School is meant for academics, not romance, and some things are better kept private.
The school has rules to prevent inappropriate behavior, but PDA often slips through the cracks. The entire campus is too large to monitor, especially during lunch or passing periods. Certain areas have quietly become “safe-spots” for couples, as they are hidden from staff but not from students, who are forced to witness moments they never asked to see. The negligence to these instances and areas should be enacted upon sooner rather than later, as they create an uncomfortable environment to everyone that’s simply passing by in in the halls.
Additionally, PDA isn’t always physical. Sometimes, the words exchanged between couples are just as uncomfortable to overhear. Suggestive or overly intimate conversations in public spaces can make peers around them feel awkward or disrespected. Whether spoken or shown, these displays disrupt the respectful environment our school campus should have.
Most importantly, PDA is a distraction. When students are talking about what they saw in the hallways instead of focusing in class, it impairs the learning environment for everyone. While it’s understandable that some couples only see each other at school, that doesn’t give a free pass to break rules that exist for a reason. These private moments are conversations that should be put aside until after school, or even better off campus.
If nothing changes, PDA will remain an impediment to daily campus life. It’s time we address it through awareness and mutual respect. As students, we can all do our part to make walking through the hallways a less awkward experience and school a comfortable place for everyone.