Whispers

8/8/2017

Vol 12, Issue 3

CAMERON DOIG

Here
In the Level 3 Study Space
In my solitary zone
I hear someone whispering
It’s not quiet
Every “S” tickles my inner ear
“Just go outside”, my soul begs
But no
Silence is for everyone

Courtesy of Wiki Commons

But the whisperer
Whose secretive susurrating sibilance
Would make weaker men weep
I just take it
(Genuinely) Silent
Stoic
Still
Stony-faced
“Just go outside”, my soul begs
“But Sarah said Sam sacked her for something super secret”, the whisperer hisses
Snake-whispering
Soothsaying
A future in which I walk over
With the “Silent Study Area” sign pasted over my face
With holes cut for my mouth and eyes
And politely ask
The whisperer
And their friends
As politely as I can
To please
Just go outside
Thanks

Cameron Doig is a first-year JD student

The rest of this issue

Yeah but

8/8/2017 08:22:11 pm

This poem I get ya with regard to actual study spaces

But I've been shush'ed by non-law students at the LEVEL 1 TABLES

just ridiculous i say eh

keep up the good work cam let's enforce some hush hush where it belongs and maintain the vibrancy of conversation in the non-study spaces

Clare

8/8/2017 08:29:18 pm

Finally a DM article about enemies of the silent area! Written with grace, humour and restraint. Nice work.

Wear headphones

8/8/2017 09:29:36 pm

its not hard

Shhhh

9/8/2017 02:20:34 am

Learn to use apostrophes correctly. It's not hard.

ITS CALLED THE SILENT AREA

9/8/2017 06:44:06 am

First, "silent" is defined in the dictionary. You may look that up.
Second, there's ONE silent area but SO MANY non-silent areas where you can talk.
So just go outside. It's not hard.

Npj

8/8/2017 10:46:13 pm

Yes, finally demin can become a place for actual literary writing! Anyone reading this feel inspired!

John

10/8/2017 01:36:15 pm

Unfortunately, more and more academic libraries across the whole world are progressing to "quiet" zones, as it's almost impossible to enforce without additional staff resources (which libraries are already hard pressed by).

There's also the question of libraries trying to keep relevant in the 21st century. Whilst I personally am a supporter of silent spaces, there is a growing number of students who prefer to work in collaborative zones or quiet zones as opposed to in total silence. Strictly enforcing silence will only discourage some students from using the library entirely, which is a bad outcome.

A solution might be a purpose built room within the library just for those who want to work in total silence, similar to how we have purpose built rooms for groups. This would have be larger than your typical group project rooms however.

Despite all that, the Law Library is one of the few standouts that remains relatively silent even without enforcing it. Most students understand this. Perhaps this is why it's so popular to study in?

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