The Brown & White

It may still be April, but summer is in the air at Lehigh. Students are registering for next year's classes, trees are turning green and flip-flops are being pulled out from the back of closets. But with the temperature still in the mid-40s, what is it that drives people to bare their feet to the elements and Lehigh's mountainous terrain?

For many, wearing flip-flops means the winter is finally over and warm weather is on its way. They trigger memories of the summer, when students are free of exams, homework and classes.

"I love being able to wear my flip-flops, because they mean that it's summer time," Trisha Guillen, '11, said. "You don't get to see them a lot of the year at Lehigh because it's so cold."

Flip-flops' versatility is another factor that makes them popular on campus. Flip-flops can range from cheap rubber versions made for the shower to more costly pairs suitable for nighttime wear.

"Flip-flops are the most versatile type of shoe in the summer," Michelle Rumsey, '11, said. "You can wear them with dresses or with shorts, wherever you're going."

The comfort factor is also a big pull when it comes to picking flip-flops over other shoes.

"I love to wear them because they're so comfortable," Kiera Murasko, '11, said. "I wear them almost every day, no matter what."

However, the same things that make flip-flops comfortable can also make them a safety hazard. Because flip-flops leave the foot almost entirely uncovered, it is much easier for injuries to occur than with regular shoes.

"We see people with injuries that are related to wearing flip-flops, and it's not unusual for the health center staff to discourage the practice," Dr. Susan Kitei, of the Health and Wellness Center, said in an e-mail.

Lehigh's hill, steep climbs and numerous steps can also lead to injuries for those wearing flip-flops. According to Kitei, the Health and Wellness Center has seen students with injuries from tripping on the stairs and stubbing their toes, due in part to the combination of flip-flops and the topography of Lehigh.

"[Flip-flops] can be dangerous," Marat Perlov, '08, said. "I don't really wear them, because they hurt my feet, but if someone has sweaty feet and is trying to walk up the steps, they could slip and hurt themselves."

Rainy weather can also make flip-flops a dangerous choice, especially when walking on campus. The combination of wet feet, rubber flip-flops and rain-covered stairs often does not end well.

"I'm doing pretty well walking around the mountain, but I've seen other people fall," Aufgang said.

Another place on campus that can be a challenge to flip-flop wearers are the painted lines on the street in front of Fairchild-Martindale Library, as anyone who has waited for the bus can tell you.

"I can't walk on the white stripes of paint in flip-flops when it's raining, because I always slip," Murasko said.

In science labs, closed shoes are required because students could be handling dangerous chemicals and glass instruments.

"You can't wear flip-flops in lab because you could spill something on your foot," Heather Axelrod, '10, said. "Plus, if you dropped a beaker and it broke it would be much easier for someone to get cut."

Wearing flip-flops while cooking can pose similar dangers to your feet. "Sometimes when I'm wearing flip-flops I worry that I'm going to burn myself when I make mozzarella sticks in the deep fryer," Sam Bello, '11, said.

While cooking injuries can be avoided by being careful, Kitei said flip-flops can also lead to more serious injuries, such as tendonitis and sprained ankles because they do very little to support the foot. In addition to these injuries, the lack of support in flip-flops can lead to overall soreness.

For Stacey Reich, '10, a member of the Lehigh tennis team, soreness in her ankles keeps her from wearing flip-flops the day before a match.

"If I walk around a lot in flip-flops my ankles sometimes get sore, and playing tennis on them only makes it worse," Reich said. "Even though I like flip-flops a lot, I really try to wear regular shoes before I have matches."

While most people don't bring out their flip-flops until at least after spring break, there are those who brave the elements and wear them throughout the year.

"When I'm home I wear them all the time," said Reich, who is from Georgia. "At school I probably won't wear them until the spring, but I understand why people might wear them all year. If you find a pair that fit really well, and you don't have to walk around a lot, they can be really comfortable."

So what can flip-flop wearers do to increase their enjoyment of this favorite summer footwear while also keeping themselves injury-free? Short of asking students to stop wearing them, enthusiasts can try to find a pair that fits well, keep them out of the rain, stay away from the paint stripes in front of the library and hope for the best.