Kaylene Kerber – Opinions Columnist

The quality of a seat can make or break a student’s ability to focus on a lecture. Your grade is totally dependent on the quality of your sitting within a classroom and you can quote me on that. In order to judge the majority of the classroom chairs I created five categories which include mobility, comfort, aesthetic, functionality and back-crackability. Mobility refers to how much effort it requires to move the chair around the classroom. Comfort is quite self explanatory but I will explain it anyway (you know how word counts work). Comfort is how comfortable the chair is, which depends on the material of the chair. Is it plastic? Are there cushions? What is the shape of the seat for the comfort section? Aesthetics or, as the youth say, “vibes” are an important part to consider. Functionality includes the actual structure of the chair and any possible qualms that an individual could have with the chair. Lastly, back-crackability is how the structure works to allow a student to crack their bones. 

Anderson elementary school classroom and Olin third floor chairs

Ease of mobility: They move around quite easily as each of the four legs have an omnidirectional or swivel wheel. In other words, a simple push would suffice to send you in an office chair joust.  6/10

Comfort: These are quite average in terms of cushioning. It seems like there is an air pocket in the cushion- only a slight one but there isn’t much actual cushion. 3/10

Aesthetic: The colors are quite boring with a gray and black combination. The fabric cloth has a slight geometric pattern. Overall a very typical looking chair. 5/10

Functionality: In terms of armrests, this chair is pitiful. They are small and round, not offering any rest for the arms and just getting in the way. Nothing is easily adjustable but it is a nice depth to the chair. 6/10

Back-crackability: There is a lip on the back of the chair that works as a handle for cracking. The seats allow for a “twist and lean back: two ways to crack”. 9/10

ConVic lecture hall chairs: 

Ease of mobility: Five swivel wheels that allow it to glide like a knife through butter. There requires an initial push but then smooth sailing. 9/10

Comfort: Literally a hug for your butt, I love this chair’s cushion. Unfortunately not a lot of lumbar support, whenever you lean back you fall straight back with little effort. 7.5/10

Aesthetic: It is an office chair from the 90s. Unlike humor from the 90s, the fabric texture isn’t offensive nor is the pattern. 6/10

Functionality: It is a great chair if you need a quick nap but it is hard to pay attention in class. 7/10

Back-crackability: The chair moves with you, bad for back cracking. 0/10

Convic and Olin second floor classroom chairs: 

Ease of Mobility: It is easier than an Old Main chair because the legs don’t snag, the legs are basically two metal bars that slide evenly on the carpet. No wheels though. 4/10

Comfort: It is a textured hard plastic that your legs stick to. There is lumbar support. 1/10

Aesthetic: POV you are in high school. 7/10

Functionality: You can’t cross your legs, I swear you just can’t unless you want all your stuff to fall off. 0/10

Back-crackability: You can use the desk as a pivoting point and the lip on the back of the chair. This is one of the best back cracking chairs. 10/10

Nobel classroom chairs: 

Ease of mobility: They have wheels, five of them in fact, and yet it is hard to move. 5/10

Comfort: A slight dip for the butt and a fuller cushion but not armrest. 8.5/10

Aesthetic: Modern chair for the metropolitan human. 6/10

Functionality: There is a netting back for those with back sweat. The ring to rest your feet is a nice feature. Almost everything is easily adjustable. 9/10

Back-crackability: Backs are tall which interfere with back cracking and the chair spins with you. 2/10

Music lecture hall chairs: 

Ease of mobility: THEY ARE BOLTED TO THE FLOOR. -5/10

Comfort : They are a hard plastic, a harder plastic than the Convic classroom chairs and you can’t lean back. What is comfort? 0/10

Aesthetic: The 60s threw up. Beige. So beige. 3/10

Functionality: The desk is so small, but you could cross your legs if need be. Overall it feels cramped. 2/10

Back-crackability: It is on par with Convic crackability but offers less as the desk isn’t great for pivoting. 9/10

Majority of music classroom chairs: 

Ease of mobility: Four legs that can snag. There is round plastic on the end which helps slightly. 3/10

Comfort: There is little cushion and the texture of the fabric is so annoying. You can feel every thread. 2/10

Aesthetic: A slightly classier DMV chair, also from the 60s. 2/10

Functionality: The chair gets the job done. Much like the music department, the chair is poor. 4/10

Back-crackability: Lots of handles to hold and swivel for optimal back cracking. 6/10

Olin lecture hall: 

Ease of mobility: Although bolted to the table there is a forward and backward range of motion. If students feel so inclined they can pivot on the chairs axis as well. 8/10

Comfort: It has cushioning that is quite average… enough said. 5/10

Aesthetic: The brick color is cool and the gap separating the seat from the back is fun. 8/10

Functionality: It leans back but the back of the chair is at a really awkward spot. 5/10

Back-crackability: It all moves with you, really bad for back cracking. 1/10

Old Main classroom chairs:

Ease of Mobility: It takes great effort to convince yourself to move them. The four legs snag and the seat is heavier than most because it is made of wood. 0/10

Comfort: You don’t stick to it like those in ConVic, but it is a hard wooden chair. 1/10

Aesthetic: Old school house plus fun carved in designs. 10/10

Functionality: It has good back support, but everything is so stiff and there isn’t a lot of desk space. 4/10

Back-crackability: The back of the chair is tall but it is a nice anchor for the process. 4/10

Beck classroom chairs: 

Ease of mobility: Sometimes it’s too good at moving and you accidentally slide your chair around. 9/10

Comfort: There is some cushion but it is thin. It has nice back support and armrests. 6/10

Aesthetic: The modern office chair, you can find this in any building. A dime a dozen, just like any psychology major. 5/10

Functionality: It is so generic that you forget that you are sitting in a chair, therefore allowing yourself to focus on class. 5/10

Back-crackability: Some of the chairs have built-in desks making cracking easier but it isn’t a chair that you go for just to crack your back. 5/10