So it’s just you and your girlfriend during free period, sitting by the door to the weight room. Yes, you have homework, but spending time with your partner is too enticing to pass up.

Just as you’re about to lock lips, a student exits the library, rounds the corner, and ruins the moment by making eye contact. It’s awkward for both of you; it takes forever for the kid to get his books and leave, but finally, he does.

Now it’s just the two of you again, and you slowly move in for the kiss. Then, out of the corner of your eye you see another student exiting the library, this time a girl.

She glances at the two of you, then, embarrassed, immediately looks the other direction and heads back in.

Yes, it’s true. PDA, or public display of affection, no matter how harmless you feel it is, makes many students uncomfortable.

Sometimes even having your partner sitting on your lap embarrasses those around you, especially if you and the bystander make eye contact.

By choosing a public area in which to indulge, chances are that many students will pass you. If you’re near the lockers, students will inevitably have to get by you for their books, and this will most likely end in a stilted conversation that seemingly takes forever.

We bystanders don’t know if you will be offended, angered or casual about us disrupting your intimacy, even for a few seconds.

In addition, the thought of brushing up against you and your partner while kissing is pretty revolting, so we keep our distance.

Thus, we must choose between disrupting your intimacy and getting our books, or waiting until you’re done, which is a waste of our time.

Ultimately, it’s a matter of respecting your friends, teachers, and guests at school. Even if you feel that PDA is harmless, we find it distasteful and inappropriate.

It would be comparable to us littering all over your locker and belongings every single day.

So please, either suppress the urge until after school or go somewhere private.

Go behind a classroom, to the Neukom/Fels Amphitheater, or anywhere out of sight. Just keep the scene for you and your partner’s eyes only.

And if you continue to disrespect the space of others, don’t be surprised if teachers start to intervene.

As we are given trash duty for chewing gum, littering or using foul language, it seems only fair that you should be given a similar punishment for your blatant disregard of people’s personal space.

Maybe if the administration notified your parents, thus creating an awkward situation for both of you, you would finally feel a slice of our pain.

We shouldn’t have to squeeze through a moshpit of kissing couples just to reach our lockers, throw food away in the garbage or go to the bathroom.

The next time you and your partner want sexy time, please consider those around you.