As I sit here and write this article, I realize I am about to offend 75 percent of the Harding student body. I admit, what I am about to say will most likely not be a welcomed comment among many readers, so I am warning you now that you might want to put my article down. Remember though, this is an opinions article, so do not take this personally.
You see, this is my third year at Harding, and over the course of my time here I have come to love many things about this school. The people, the classes and the campus atmosphere itself are just a few things that I have come to enjoy. I am all about school pride and campus traditions, and I always enjoy watching the campus trends from year to year. That being said, there is one trend that I despise. Chacos.
Yes, I said it. I strongly dislike Chacos. Now you can tell me how versatile and durable they are, how great they are as shoes, but I disagree. I mean, overalls would be more durable too, but you don’t see me wearing them around in the student center. I have never liked Chacos, nor will I ever like them.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure you could even call Chacos a “trend.” I have just about decided that they are a way of life for many students here at Harding. Some schools give out laptops or iPhones to their incoming students, and I think it’s about time for Harding to start giving their freshmen a brand-new pair of Chacos. The unsightly footwear will not improve the lives of the Harding newbies, but they will make the freshmen and transfers feel more like all of the other 7,000 students.
It would be one thing if Chacos were a summer mission trip thing or an overseas program thing — I could deal with that. If nothing else, the shoes would be in a different country. But at Harding they are year-round attire, and it seems like everyone wears them.
As the weather is starting to get cooler, I am starting to realize that my flip flops will soon be put to rest for the year, but Harding students still have yet to realize that Chacos are not winter apparel. On numerous rainy days, I have passed students in 50-degree weather walking across campus with their bare feet peeping out from their sandals.
I have a feeling that I’m probably not the only student on this campus with an abhorrence of these strapping shoes, and by strapping I don’t mean good-looking. I just have refused to conform to this Harding status quo and give in to being like many of the other students. If you are reading this and own a pair of Chacos, do not worry. I won’t judge you by your footwear. Just don’t be upset when your children look back at your old college pictures and ask you what in the world you were wearing on your feet. Remember, I warned you.
