Clear, concise signage is an all too familiar mark of authority in our lives. Whether it’s where you can and cannot park, or what is to be done with your dog and its excrement, signage makes our societal expectations abundantly clear.
Of all the signs in our society, there is none more oppressive than “Keep Off Grass.” This sign, often seen on government buildings and college campuses, seeks to ensure the idyllic green landscape remains preserved. With its inherent absurdity and arbitrary practical purpose the “Keep Off Grass” sign hopes to discipline us in keeping with our societal norms.
While the expectations are clear, a problem occurs when you consider enforcement. Short of a school administrator playing the trope of a cranky old man, there is little that could prevent a group of people from asserting their will over the grass. Walking paths and sidewalks remedy this, telling students exactly where they are allowed to walk, further accentuating the beautiful landscape.
There are times, however, when the sidewalks do not adequately fulfill the needs of students. In this instance, the students may decide to walk on the grass, taking the shortest path between common destinations. If enough students do this, the grass will begin to wear, bringing back the rugged dirt underneath. This creates a path unlike the sidewalk: a passageway known as the Desire Path.
The Desire Path is one of the few ways a student body can assert their collective will in our college experience of impotent consciousness. If you see a Desire Path, you know that students as a majority have decided that the facilities have not met their practical demands. Not only this, but the Desire Path is a passive form of protest, a tacit way of rejecting the desires of the authority at hand. Sometimes, this protest can lead to further change. When the authorities destroy the Desire Path, it is replaced by a paved sidewalk. The new sidewalk may not be aesthetically pleasing, but will sufficiently fulfill students’ needs. Students should have a great sense of pride when their self-made Desire Paths are destroyed because it was due to their collective desire that they were able to make change with just the simple act of walking.
So the next time you’re walking to Renner, the Student Union, Battelle, or the Library, be sure to take the path that you desire and keep an eye out for a sprouting Desire Path. Chances are, if you see one forming, or pioneer one yourself, you’re becoming a part of something far bigger than your shoe size.
