By John D. Harden, Staff Writer

Published Oct. 29, 2014

Since arriving at UNCG, I’ve come to realize that some of the personal standards I thought everyone abided by are simply not universal. 

And, of course, student hygiene epitomizes this violation; frankly, it seems that many students don’t even think about meeting this requirement.

So, let’s jump into all of the problems that these students cause the rest of us.

Whether your noticeable odor or unkempt appearance is on account of attitude or mere forgetfulness, it’s an unacceptable way to present oneself to others.

Still, some persist in doing just that, and show a complete disregard for those around them.

For example, I have a class with a guy who I’ve pretty much sat next to all year, and who up until this point I had considerable respect for.

He arrived in class one morning smelling rank, and I couldn’t tell if the effect had been several days in the making – or if he just had forgotten to put on deodorant that morning.

I thought it was too bad that this single occasion played such an enormous role in my perception of a person– but it was truly impossible to forget about.

Guys, we may be in college and every day is a struggle between routine and guilty pleasures, but we have no excuse to let hygiene-related concerns become a problem.

When you start to consider the above incident as representative of any lapse in ability to care for oneself, you realize that it is definitely the only of its kind.

The same goes for going barefoot in public places.

It’s not hip, or individualistic; in reality it’s highly dangerous, and weirdly pretentious.

Understand that it gives you an air of homelessness that is neither attractive nor practical, even if you’ve convinced yourself that it’s “better for the arches of your feet”. 

It takes a pretty small amount of effort to uphold habits like brushing your teeth and rolling on your deodorant, but nonetheless college proves harrowing to some of us in these areas.

By coming to class smelly or unkempt you set a lower standard for other students to sink to, and as unfortunate that may seem, it is absolutely true.

I must have seen more “sleepy-eyed, pajama-clad academics” drudging their way to class this semester than ever before.

Now it seems that to wear a suit or tuck in your shirt makes you an outlier, whereas batman pajama pants and dirty t-shirts are the new norm.

This is just downright silly and should be seen as such, especially when one of these clowns walks into class late.

Did you sleep in? Do you not care?

I’m sure these are only the preliminary questions your professors will ponder in response to such actions.

Now, I’m sure everyone has had an off day or two, but that shouldn’t become your everyday output of effort, be it for educational purposes or not.

The bottom line is to try to stay aware of your own smells and the number of days you go without showering or changing your pants.

There are washers and dryers all over campus, find one or get in it.

Oh, you have sensitive armpit skin? Well, you’re in luck!  There are plenty of alternative ‘de-odes’.

Particular hair that doesn’t need shampooing? Let’s get real. You fool no one.

There’s always an easy alternative out there to smelling and looking nice, and it not only draws negative attention away from you, but you actually smell and look better too.

That’s not to say that you should suddenly pour on the Axe and soak up the Irish Spring in the shower. 

Instead, maybe you should just ease into your scents.

So try to clean it up there, shaggy.

Please wear shoes and deodorant. You may think these parts of your body do not smell due to the distance between them and your nose, but we can certainly smell them.

Jeans usually last a day or two, maybe three, before you need to toss ‘em in the wash.

Seriously, let’s keep our hygiene standard at least a standard, and take pride in how we smell.