Letter to the editor: Eastern professor laments lack of replies to greetings, smiles from student body

I have been around Eastern for over 45 years. I was a student in the 1960s then came back to teach and work here in the 1970s, and over the years I have seen a decline in the return of just saying "Hi" to someone.

Maybe it's my gray hair and beard, but students seem to be a little more withdrawn.

It seemed in those early years I could say "Hi" to someone I didn't know and they would say "Hi" back, but over the past 10 to 15 years fewer and fewer respond back.

Last spring I thought maybe I just didn't say it right. So I changed the greeting to "Good morning/Good afternoon." That was a mistake because even fewer responded.

I tried to keep track of the number who replied back but I often forgot how many replied or didn't reply.

The best I have gotten recently, in a day, was about a third replied back (I counted a smile as a reply).

Maybe it's the don't talk to strangers or that I'm gray haired that stops the replies (male and female) but I can say I miss the old EKU where a smile and a "hi" got you a greeting and a smile back.

A smile costs nothing but has gives a wealth of pleasure.

Thank you all for your smiles over the years they have meant a lot.

- Bob Swanagin