What Is The Quad Observation

I chose to observe The Quad at The University of Alabama on Monday, March 6, 2017 from 12 o’clock to 2 o’clock in the afternoon. I thought The Quad would be a particularly interesting place to examine because of its transformative nature. Considering how The Quad morphs to fulfill the needs of certain individuals, groups, and events was one of my main focuses. I also wondered how material and non-material traces worked together to create the distinct culture that presents itself in The Quad.
During my observation of The Quad, it was overcast. Leaves fell, even though spring is well underway in Alabama, which is indicative of the state’s inconsistent weather. Also to be noted, my observation took place on a Monday. This made for a Quad full
Walking on the grass is always acceptable, for humans and animals alike—that is, unless you’re a Frat pledge in the Fall, or so I hear. But there are also unspoken rules present in these everyday activities. Seating on The Quad follows the same basic rules of American public transport—if I don’t know you, don’t sit too close to me. College students are quite fond of their bubbles, and The Quad is no exception. Another unspoken rule I noticed was that, if a booth member or one of those campaigners looked like they were going to talk to another student, that student was suddenly very busy with something on his or her phone—the universal sign for, please don’t talk to me. And then there’s the rule of public displays of affection which generally goes something like—if you wouldn’t want your mother to see it, please don’t do it in front of me. One vital taboo on The Quad is tailgating on The Mound. That specific spot is considered a historical landmark, and the prohibition of tailgating there is strictly enforced. Vandalism is another obvious taboo, and doesn’t often happen within the confines of The Quad. This goes back to the pride and affection students have for The Quad. People don’t tend to vandalize things they enjoy. Within these norms and taboos, The Quad never presents itself as a
Based on what I saw, The Quad is place that’s both multi-cultural and multi-ethnic, and I think that is especially true for UA. The university is home to students not only from all around the country, but all around the world. The Quad is also a place that is dominated by a specific age group—mostly 17 to 26 year olds—and because of that, the interests of that age group flourish there, just as they do across the rest of the university’s campus. One of the most important aspects of The Quad, is the way that it transforms to fit the needs of the individual or group using it. For some, it is a platform. For other, it’s a classroom or a study space. For some, it’s a social hub, and still for others it is simply a walkway. This is particularly telling of the university’s culture, for it too is also transformative. What this university represents is different for every individual who passes through it. Finally, The Quad is, geographically, at the center of The University of Alabama, but it also serves as the cultural center of the university—surrounded and intermingled with things that specifically represent UA and the culture that goes along with