Dear Davida,
I spend a lot of time studying in the Campus Center. The background noise of the blenders at the Daily Grind and the students chatting is perfect for me because I have trouble concentrating if it’s too quiet. Unfortunately, I’ve been finding myself with the opposite problem lately. There is a person who is often in the campus center when I am, and this person sits by me. I normally would welcome the company, but the person just never stops talking! The individual can never seem to get the hint that I am trying to focus on homework and goes on and on about the same things over and over again. I feel obligated to look up and make eye contact or throw out an “uh huh” or an “oh, really?” every so often, and this disrupts my reading. I am moderately friendly with this person, and I’d rather not cause offense and make enemies over something so trivial. Is there any way I can get my peace and quiet back?
Signed,
Not All Ears

Dear Ears,
There’s nothing worse than trying to mind your own business and getting mixed up listening to someone else’s. Try politely asking the person if they’d mind keeping quiet for a while. Hopefully they’ll honor your request. If they take offense, at least you won’t have to worry about them sitting by you again. If they continue to talk your ear off, headphones or earbuds can be a life saver. Even if you aren’t really listening to anything, headphones should send the signal that you’re checked out and not open to conversation. If this somehow fails, you could always find a new place to study, like in the resource center or behind the Mart, and conveniently neglect to tell the person. If you bump into him or her elsewhere and he or she asks you about your sudden disappearance, be honest and tell him or her you found a study spot that better suits your needs, and quickly change the subject before they have a chance to ask where. Hopefully your study sessions will become less social and you will be able to remain on friendly terms with your Campus Center Chatty Cathy.