Outside the massive complex, the heat resembles that of a
convection oven: simply too hot to be comfortable. Yet there are still masses
of people each about their own business. Each walking with a place in mind,
none with the tell tale slow walk of a spontaneous stroll. There are athletes
walking by in groups proudly flaunting the sweat stains on their shirts as if
it were a badge of honor. There are academics as well, quietly minding there
textbooks and laptops, hypersensitive to their work and the 5 foot radius
around, but seemingly nothing else. There are scores of other different types
of people, all falling into their slot. Some of them are going to class, some
are returning from class for a nap. It is never a challenge to distinguish that
by the way they carry themselves. Regardless of who is walking by, as if
someone were giving away money at the door, there is a magnetic pull toward the
DUC as people walk by.
Housed on the
ever-famous Asbury Circle, all people can find an excuse to pass through here
at least once a day. It has food, help desks, computers, pool tables, the mail room and so much more. Stepping into the building, it is like being
enveloped by a wave of neutralizing cool that seems to permeate through the
body and even the mind giving one a new sense of refreshment. The diversity of
people remains the same, but the differences come to a near halt. The cold
blast of the air conditioning makes coming inside seem more spacious than being
outside, under the thumb of the sun. There are a myriad of places to sit and
work, eat, or relax with friends. Yet, there is a clearly homogenous mixture of
people. Unlike outside where people
refrain from walking in flocks greater than 3, the opposite seems to be true in
here.
The DUC (Dobbs
University Center) is very much the heart of the Emory campus. This makes the
people the blood cells, everyone feels naturally compelled to stop
through at least once a day to fulfill their basic needs so they can go out and
perform their duties to make the body that is Emory campus so great. Also like
a heart, there is a certain ebb and flow to the influx and exodus of people
like the ventricular systole and diastole of a real heart. It is an ideal place
to get the beat of campus (no pun intended).
Sitting
in the DUC can be like watching a show. The noise for one is very theatrical.
The clanking of silverware, the bustle of conversation, and laughter amongst
friends work seamlessly together to make a familiar hum. The students also put
on mini shows in the theater-like eating area. One student, clearly a freshman
based on the cautious display as she walked up the winding stairs fishing
for her ID, was particularly interesting to watch. Her head was constantly on a swivel trying to find someone, anyone,
to latch onto. She unknowingly passed people from over 16 different countries
during her short walk to grab food without so much as a second thought. Then,
as if struck with an arrow from cupid, she finds a familiar face. Her
expression lights up and she quickens her pace to enjoy the shelter of her
friends company. This emotional display, and many others, happens hundreds of times a day.
The
DUC is an important part of the Emory community as a whole. It is astonishing
that one place can house so many types of people. It allows people a break from
the trials and tribulations of everyday life and a great vantage point for
observing people. It seems that without it, the school would not be able to
function to its full potential.
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