It has been about a month since Gaels, new and old, returned to New Rochelle with relaxed, sun kissed faces. Once determined and eager students, some have fallen prone to slacking both in schoolwork and life on campus. Now that the novelty of a new school year has worn off, many are left with only stress and late night studying, making students more susceptible to committing one of many faux pas on campus.

To help the unfortunate who are responsible for this and aid in assisting the unknowing few who may one day be culprits, The Ionian presents: the do’s and dont’s of Iona College.

In true pessimistic fashion, the don’ts are recorded first.

First on the list, and arguably committed most often, is wearing pajamas to class. It’s eight in the morning and your alarm goes off. All you want to do is hit snooze five times, roll out of bed two minutes before class and trek across campus in your favorite pajama pants.

On behalf of all professors, administrators, tour guides and appropriately dressed students: don’t do it. Take the extra 10 minutes to put on regular clothes. The temptation of falling asleep in class will significantly decrease when not wearing bed attire.

Any student who has ever sat in the study lounge of South or Conese Hall ready to rip his or her own hair out due to frustration will be thankful for this next one: don’t scream obscenities, or anything else for that matter, in the courtyard at night. Whether it is a Tuesday or a Saturday night, there are students attempting to get work done without needing to be informed of inconsequential subject matters being announced at a high decibel level. Inside voices please–even when outside.

Don’t be THAT person in line at campus eateries. Have your meal card at the ready when Rose or any other worker has finished punching buttons and is ready to swipe. It will move the line along much quicker and leave time for you to grab an oversized cookie afterwards.

We’ve all done it: talking in the library. The famous Harry Potter room or 800 room has turned from a once silent safe study haven to social hour at a studiously looking bar or hangout. The once devoted Harry Potter room inhabitants have now retreated to the silent rooms on the third floor, leaving the socializers to their fun a level below.

Now that this switch has taken place, don’t talk on the silent floors. Obey the rules and keep order. Third floor nerds can’t take their work up any higher to a more silent floor.

While there are many more faux pas on campus, these serve as a good start and if followed will really clean up our campus. It’s not all bad though; saving the best for last, here is a list of do’s:

Do get involved on campus. It’s a cliché line that has been said a thousand times, but clearly it’s true if the mantra is so widely used. Joining clubs and organizations will enhance the college experience and just think: there will be way more people to awkwardly pass on campus with a wave and a half smile.

Help the struggling freshmen and transfer students navigate the confusing halls and floors of Murphy Center. It isn’t their fault the layout of Murphy is strikingly similar to a maze.

Ask for receipts after meal card transactions to avoid catastrophe. This way when November rolls around there is still the necessary amount of meal card money and you won’t have to starve all winter. The cold weather is hard enough to cope with, but also missing pasta Thursday would make life unbearable.

Evacuate the building when the fire alarm goes off, even if you are napping, showering or playing with all five extension cords and other resident hall contraband. Trying to hide under the covers instead of retreat to the courtyard at an inconvenient time will not work: resident directors and other Iona staff will find you.

Get on a first name basis with Deli Mart’s finest employee, Mo. While you are at it, befriend all security guards just in case you forget your ID card – there is always one of those nights you need a pint of Ben and Jerry’s and entry into your building immediately.

The last and most important blurb of advice is this, but if you’ve gotten this far in the article, it might not even need to be said: DO continue reading the Ionian for more tips like these, top trends and entertaining articles galore!