observation

19 September 2008

Observation

Observing in the new student center on Auburn University’s campus, there are many things that catch my attention. The big, heavy glass doors open and close, open and close. The man is staring, watching each girl walk by. He is wearing a white jacket and boots. He approaches the ladies and asks them if they have seen a little girl about three. He then went into the stairwell. The chairs are orange. They are high like bar stools. There are also stuffed arm-chairs that many students sit in to ready or to study.  The tables are shaped like a circle. They are plastic. The exit signs are glowing orange. There are very modern-looking lights along the brick wall. They are about two feet tall and glow brightly.  There are other dining tables that are round-shaped as well. These can fit about four or five people around them. As some African- American young men sit around the table, they tell jokes and laugh. There is a Bravo Croton plant directly behind them. From my point of view I can see seven exit signs. There is a man mopping the dirty floor. He is wearing black pants and a black and white shirt with a nametag.  He has gray hair and appears to be fairly old.  He just arrived and he is not happy because he does not like mopping. I can tell by his grumpy attitude. There is this old woman sitting about fifty yards away from me. On the silver doors are these doorknobs. They are the kinds that have levers. The hinges are also silver with a scratchy look. The receptionist answers the many phone calls. Unlike some receptionists I have encountered, she seems very pleasant to talk to on the phone. One of the callers was wanting to know when The Student Union closed for the night. The receptionist told her and got off the phone in a very nice manner. She has on a red button down. It appears to be corduroy. She has a nametag on that says, “Hello my name is LaTosha.” She was very short, about five feet tall. She has brown heels that make loud noises when they stomp against the floor. I think that LaTosha has talent because I know that I could never walk in those heels. The walls are white with green trim.  There are a lot of coming and going.  They are talking and carrying on. They are eating chick-fil-a chicken, Mama Leone’s pizza, and most of them are drinking a drink (probably something caffeinated so that they can stay awake and alert in class). They are enjoying their meals.  There is an old “Aubie” uniform in a glass case.  It is in the lobby, near the reception desk.  I begin to imagine where that uniform has been and think of all the great games that it attended.  It looks quite different than the uniform “Aubie” wears now.  It is more of a brown color than a bright orange and there are many more stripes.  There is a set of double doors that one would use if she or he wanted to go to the next room. These doors led to the stair well. We are o the second floor. There is loud commotion due to the restaurants near. My group is in study hall and they are in the room to my left. Inside there are around forty people. The atmosphere smells unique. It is a mixture of a fresh coat of paint and greasy foods. The tables are covered in crumbs and many have the remains of a spilled drink on them. Underneath several of the tables, there are dirty crinkled up napkins. A trashcan near by is overflowing. It seems the student union has been very busy throughout the day.  One can hear the loud noises of the machinery just outside the windows.  From what I can see, there is still a lot of construction work to be done.  There are many workers, some wearing hard hats, others not.  The machines cause dust to cover the outside of the windows.  As I look out at the construction work, I notice groups of people eating and talking at tables outside.  I also see a couple of people smoking along the railing outside, some making small talk, others listening to music.  The student union is a very busy place and there never seems to be a dull moment.