Since construction shut down the marble sidewalk in front of the main entrance to Perkins, a temporary mulch path has been set down to help pedestrians cross the lawn. Here are the cases for and against the lovely addition to our construction-infested campus.
Pros:
1. Great place to hide your nuts—if you are a squirrel, or have squirrel-like tendencies.
2. Increases the biodiversity of Duke’s grounds by creating a moist and warm home for centipedes, spiders, and other fun creatures.
3. Makes a post-card perfect picture with the blue construction fence in the center and the crane on the horizon.
4. Brown color is reminiscent of dirt hiking trails, so you won’t feel as bad taking the hike from the west bus stop to the distant side entrance of Perkins.
5. Absorbent material will suck up your midterm stress tears.
6. Cushions the fall of your iPhone 6 if you drop it.
7. Kills unsightly weeds, especially grass.
8. The cheap-looking path will help you forget how much money you’re throwing at Duke to go here.
Cons:
1. Increased risk of foot-splinters
2. Try walking through that squishy mess with your job-interview heels. I dare you.
3. Wheelchair accessibility? Forget it.
4. Mulch is the herpes of playground materials. It spreads everywhere.
5. The paths in the Duke forest are better maintained.
6. Mold and moss and mushrooms can grow on mulch.
7. We’d all rather walk on grass than an uneven pile of mulch. So the grassy areas are fenced off.
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