Old soul cycles through tech-driven world

With his brown plaid slacks neatly tucked into his black dress socks, A.R. Swanson perches himself atop his high-seated, Van Cleve Model bicycle. Just before pedaling the Wright brothers-designed bike across campus, he adjusts his crimson paisley tie and golden crucifix pendant pinned to his three-piece suit. 

Passing students would be forgiven for thinking the cyclist is dressed for an interview or fancy banquet, but it’s just a regular day for the 21-year-old transfer student from North Platte, who takes pride in carrying himself in a respectable and dignified way.

“I’ve dressed in the manner I’ve had as long as I can remember,” Swanson said. “I suspect it comes a lot from my upbringing. My great-grandfather, who was also A.R. Swanson, used to dress in a suit and tie just about everyday.”

Swanson said he inherits most of his suits from family members or browses second-had stores for them. 

“It shouldn’t be an issue of expense for someone to be reluctant to dress in a dignified and respectable way,” he said. “It’s quite easy to get some respectful clothes for oneself if one’s looking in the right places.”

In addition to his unique wardrobe, Swanson prefers a lifestyle that doesn’t rely on a smart phone. He instead uses a basic flip phone.

“It really has all I need on it,” he explained.  “There is too much distraction on (smart phones). I think people would just benefit from looking right in front of them instead of what I see every day: college students just walking around, hardly looking at anything that they’re seeing.

 “If you need to get on a computer, get on a computer, but I don’t think there’s a real need to be carrying one of those in your pocket, following you around 24/7. I like to have a little bit of space between myself and the internet world.”

Because of his qualms with pocket-sized computers, Swanson uses a pocket-sized day book to set his routine.

“It benefits me because I can look at this, and see what I have on my agenda,” he said. “Or I can just jot down a note if I need to without worrying if my ability to look at this or not is dependent on whether the battery should run down on it, or if I should be in a place where there’s no service. I can always look at this no matter where I am, so long as I don’t lose it.”

Although, Swanson said with a slight chuckle, planners are just as easy to lose as smart phones.

Another credit to his unique lifestyle is Swanson’s use of contact cards. His explanation of this practice is simple.

“I believe it’s an easy way to give people my contact information,” he said. “It’s a little less awkward than trying to tear out a piece of paper and write my own number on it. I just say ‘Here’s my number, if you ever need me for anything, give me a call.’”

Swanson, while not being critical of individuals, said he believes technology is too relied upon these days.

“I don’t like to be a person that tells parents how to raise their children,” he said, “but I always get a bad feeling when I see parents giving toddlers their tablets at such a young age. I think that takes away from the parenting experience and it makes (the tablet) the parent instead of the actual human beings.” 

With a distant look in his eye, Swanson expressed his worries for the future generations. 

“I know (that with) a lot of my own generation, how hooked they can get on the tech stuff. So if you’re one or two generations removed from that, I don’t know what kind of people they’ll be in society when they come of age.”

Upon his graduation, Swanson has a goal aligned with his old school lifestyle: to work in the field of public history at a museum or archive.

“I’d like to see a day where all men carry themselves in a dignified, respectable way,” Swanson said.