In the fist two weeks of the fall semester, time and time again, I have sunk to the floor, crossed my legs, and prepared to go through class without a chair. After gazing around full classrooms, I have clenched my teeth and become aware of the irony of receiving a higher education from the floor.
Students were everywhere; sitting in cramped desks, stray chairs, standing along the back wall; and yes, sitting on the floor. Feeling helpless, as though I had stepped into a situation too late, I surrendered to the uncomfortable cement floor and tried to ignore the anger burning inside.

The boom of students pulsating through the halls and pouring into the classrooms at SF State this semester, has created a real shortage of space. The data shows a 2.9 percent increase of freshman this year, causing classrooms to burst at the seams with students. Last year, in Fall 2004, there were 2,890 freshman entering SF State, and this fall, the number is 3,180.

As a senior, I am enrolled in all the classes I need to take– unlike most of my friends who must try and add. But this does not guarantee me a place to sit. One of my teachers turned away all those on the waiting list because there was not enough room available, so only registered students were in the class. Yet, two students still had to hear the lecture from the ground.

I took matters into my own hands: I went into another classroom and take a chair. When the teacher noticed, he asked if I had stolen it and assured him that I had. I was hoping he would tell me he was going try and talk to someone about relocating the class to a larger room, but he just went on teaching, showing his lack of care for students well being.

After a week of rushing to classes, just to ultimately throw myself on the floor– I was fed up. The teachers seemed uninterested that I was on the ground. I set out to formally complain about the desk famine spreading through the school. I researched campus policies on the Internet because I was convinced that, in all likelihood, it is against the rules to even have students on the floor. I found the “Policies and Procedures Guide” link and then called the Internal Audit– personnel responsible for upholding the rules at SF State. After listening to my plight, the woman who took my call said someone would get back to me.

Somehow I doubt I will be hearing back. I am worried the administration is just not that concerned about students who might not have a desk, or even a chair for that matter. The solution lies in better planning by the school when assigning classes to classrooms with a large number of students.

Having to sit on the floor is unacceptable. For the time being I will try and get to class early and make sure that I wear comfy jeans, just in case the luxury of a desk does not find my seat.