One of the things I love most about Rexburg is walking on campus. Total strangers smile or nod my way. My “good mornings” are not met with angry or confused stares, but a “morning” in return.

Occasionally, though, I have noticed students crawling through the bushes to avoid these sidewalk scenes, because they don’t know the etiquette.

Some students have given up on attempting to look polite and instead wear earphones.

Often a time I have attempted to bid some stranger “good evening” only to be denied, rejected and publicly humiliated. It’s difficult to fathom how someone would prefer to listen to music rather than me.

For these people, here are simple rules I have observed about sidewalk etiquette.

First, feel free to politely address those traveling in the opposite direction. They’re usually very nice people and don’t mind a “how ya doing” once in a while.

In the morning the correct greeting is “top of the morning to ya.” During the day a simple “hello” will suffice. Once dusk is upon us, the only acceptable greeting is “good evening.”

Though red rock is efficient and prevents most from falling, people inevitably wipeout once in a while. The question is, is it polite to laugh at those people?

The second rule clearly states that when deciding if laughing is appropriate, you must first recognize the emotion they’re showing while you’re helping them up. If they’re laughing, feel free to as well.

If you see tears in their eyes, be compassionate enough to save the image for later.

My third rule is innovative — it deals with students that feel the need to scamper about campus at top speed. These people forget the sidewalk was built for more than one person and sideswipe others as they scurry by, leaving them bruised and bloodied in snow banks.

Therefore, students in a hurry to get to class must yell which direction they’re passing others on before they pass. If on the pathway ahead is a group of slow-walking women, yell “middle” and just barrel through.

Last, spitting on the sidewalks is also a problem. Just because one is outside does not mean that anywhere is free game to expectorate. If you must spit, at least spit in the bushes.

In case I don’t see you around campus: top of the morning to ya, hello and good evening.