As anyone who is or was a college student can attest to, lunch time in the Union (every campus has one) is somewhat hectic. This results in people reserving tables for themselves by means of a backpack, friend(s), or a homeless person. Most students acknowledge a certain limitation of the staff to keep tables in proper order during such times, and thus often there are random bits of paper, pencils, pens or other crap on the tables.

Thus, a few pieces of paper are not enough to reserve a table. Usually.

As I looked for a place to sit down just now, I found a cozy little table near the front of the Union. There were a few pieces of paper on it, but following the Rules of College-Table-Reserving, I figured that anyone who is aware of the rules would know that some paper isn't enough to ensure a table is saved for later use. Imagine my surprise, when a few minutes later some guy stops by and is very angered by such developments. I told him the rules. He was still mad. Whatever, if he's going to be a noob about it there's not much I can do. At least I didn't take his crap and throw it away for him.

These events have led me to believe that it's necessary to have guidelines for situations like these. So I wrote them up. Here they are.

Rules of College-Table-Reserving

1. APPROPRIATE MATERIALS FOR TABLE RESERVATIONS
• Backpack
• More then one book, or one book situation in an obvious way
• Personal effects such as: Sunglasses, keys, cell phones, shoes, bags with things in them, already-purchased-food, bottles, sweet lego structures, clothing, hats, etc
2. INAPPROPRIATE MATERIALS FOR TABLE RESERVATIONS
• Paper
• Magazines
• Empty or more then half empty food or drink containers
• High-Value items (Like iPods, computers, etc)
• Nothing
3. STIPULATIONS
1. A table may be reserved by a friend for any number of other friends. The table that is being reserved may have no more then 3 extra seats then the party that intends to use said table. A table is defined as one section of any larger table structure. For example, if two tables are put together, they equal one table, unless the situation calls for something different. A request for space at a strangers table should only executed if their table is made up of two or more actual tables.
2. Any table occupied by strangers may only be used if there isn't an abundance of free tables and one or more of the following:
   
   1. The occupying parties give consent
   2. The occupying parties are clearly about to leave
   3. If the table has more then two table-sections (see section III-a), and the under utilized section is empty, request is not necessary unless you are scared of the people who are there already
   4. Tables with attractive members of your preferred sex are always first
4. OTHER
1. Don't be a douche bag.