DEAR MISS MANNERS: I was walking in the humanities building of the university where I am a graduate student. I turned the corner of the hallway that leads to the offices and saw one of my professors lying in the middle of the hall at the bottom of a few steps.
She had two other professors around her, and I could hear that they believed she had sprained an ankle (I assume from tripping down the stairs).
I needed to get by them to get to my office, so I said “excuse me” and walked by. I now wonder: Was that was rude of me? Should I have stopped and inquired further?
I mean, the situation was clearly under control and it was not an emergency. My presence would likely have only made my professor uncomfortable (she did catch my eye and I could tell that she felt this way already).
Should I have chosen an alternate path? I wasn’t exactly stepping over her to get to my office, but it was pretty close.
GENTLE READER: Your haste to get to your office may have demonstrated a commendable commitment to your studies.
But Miss Manners suspects a quick stop to inquire if any further assistance was needed would not have done any lasting damage to your GPA.
(Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, dearmissmanners@gmail.com; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)