San Diego State University is under attack. Flip-flops have overrun this campus for no good reason. I should not have to see 20-plus people wearing flip-flops on any given day in February. Do those wearing flip-flops understand the horrors they subject us to when trotting around campus? Is it for fashion, or is it out of laziness? Either way, I am not a fan.
Don’t get me wrong; if I’m heading to the beach, I grab my sandals. If we’re on campus, I don’t need to see every single one of your toes as we sit side by side in a small discussion room.
The flip-flops wearers on campus don’t even look like they’ve been to the beach in the past month. When you’re picking out your outfit in the morning, and you ask yourself: “What shoes would pull this look together?” Guess what? The answer is not flip-flops.
Some fashion combos are especially tragic: mismatching of khaki pants and flip-flops has to be the worst by far, followed by the baggy jeans paired with flip-flops. Seeing girls walking around in tank tops, shorts and flip flops makes me rethink what month it actually is. Men who wear shorts and flip flops give off the look of a father of four who’s already given up. Is that really the message you want to send?
Some would argue that a quick foot fix would be to slide on a pair of flip flops. I would disagree, putting on a pair of sneakers would be just as quick. Most shoes are loose enough to slide on in seconds.
And lets not forget, it’s still winter. Even though we live in Southern California, it isn’t hot enough to justify wearing flip-flops to school. If we lived in any other part of the country, I doubt students would regularly wear flip-flops to classes this time of year.
Not only are they unpleasant to look at, but they’re also impractical for day-to-day shoes. These sandals, that so many of you love, are only held onto by one strap. This can make it really easy to trip, especially on a busy walking campus like SDSU’s. You are not protected by someone stepping on your foot, nor by a sneaky puddle that you could encounter. And forget it if a skateboarder runs over your foot, good luck walking to Student Health Services.
Flip-flops don’t have any of the same shock-absorbing material as an average sneaker. This can lead to heel pain and aching feet. A shoe with zero support is not what you want when walking around all day to and from classes. I have had my own feet aching when I wear sneakers that are meant for walking around. Another possible negative effect of wearing flip-flops regularly around campus is plantar fasciitis, inflammation of the tissue that runs from your heel to toe. This can cause pain after standing and limit your ability to walk. Is that what you really want?
Maybe it’s time to start re-thinking your foot wear if you are one of the many boldly rocking flip-flops on campus. You will be saving your feet the pain, and my eyes from having to see unsolicited toes.