Hunched shoulders and bent backs run rampant across campus. Physiologically our futures seem bleak to say the least. Outdated and uncomfortable chairs and tables are present in almost every class in our beloved university, and ironically, we have sat back for too long. Why must my fellow students and I be subjected to such inadequate classroom conditions? While the word Ergonomics is closely related to comfort, it also branches out to safety and efficiency, and in this case, ensures a student is relieved of any musculoskeletal stress.
As fancy as the title sounds, the issues here encompass seating, tables, lighting, windows, and other minor presences in the classroom.  Without scratching the surface, simple tables and chairs may seem like frivolous details, however any active learner will agree that constantly adjusting one’s position to ensure a minimal amount of comfort is a nuisance to say the least. Whether it is the buzzing of an incorrectly functioning speaker in the Lecture Theatre, or the horrible desks in the art lecture theatre, all these factors play a role in a persons’ learning experience.  

To rely simply on the academic argument would not paint a full picture of the daily dangers brave students face. While many of us will remain oblivious to the damage we are doing to our bodies, bad posture is akin to a slow acting poison that sets in years down the line. The risks associated with it include neck problems, fibrotic scar tissue, tight muscles, intervertebral disc damage and even hypertension. Shocking isn’t it? No, I’m not using fancy medical terms for the sake of it. The human body is a complex, well-oiled machine that requires every individual part to function at a certain level. Forcing yourself into an unnatural position, such as throwing your shoulders forward to reach the table, will only result in pain and stress in the near future. The question is, do we have a choice? 

With many of us destined for office jobs, our current slouching will only be reinforced in our sedentary futures. While the groundwork for posture is usually laid in our earlier years, it is never too late to change bad habits. For any improvement to be made, change must occur now. However, this is understandably easier said than done. Upon designing or selecting classroom furniture, one has to also keep in mind the wide range of body sizes found across campus. While the average person may have no hindrance with sitting down in a regular chair (let’s assume so for the sake of the argument), taller people may feel squashed and uncomfortable. The “one size-fits all” policy that can be seen across the campus must be altered. Ideally, chairs should be equipped with adjustable settings, taking into account the curvature of the spine whilst also guaranteeing comfort for all demographics.

The general design of certain classes is also flawed to some extent. For instance, many do not even accommodate the free source of light provided by the giant ball of energy in the sky. Not to mention the fact that cramming students into smaller rooms forces those on the edges to twist their neck’s to follow a presentation. One must take into consideration the fact that this topic of debate would not be so significant if only a few rooms were to blame. However, having to lean forward only to bend one’s neck down to write at gateway is equally as frustrating as the classic wooden chairs found in smaller classrooms which provide as much vertebral support as a freshly cut tree stump. 

As students, we face a number of hurdles in the race to graduation. Exams, stress, procrastination and logging out of Facebook to mention but a few. Certainly an arbitrary issue such as furniture and classroom design should not be added to that list. An underrepresented issue involving the student’s health should surely gain precedence over the many other less important topics we all seem to be so obsessed with.

BY Martin Calleja Urry