Students are no longer allowed to eat in the College/Career Resource Center this year.
The CRC will make an exception if a student is using a lunch period to meet with a college representative.
“We don't want kids to miss lunch to meet with the rep. We think that's important, and we don't want them to miss a meeting with the rep to eat lunch,” said CRC Secretary Marilyn McBride.
When the CRC moved to a new location last year, there was discussion about allowing food. Eventually the staff decided to let students to eat. The policy changed a year later because people weren’t picking up after themselves.
“We saw this neat space and it was kind of getting trashed...It was just a mess. Kids weren't deliberately being messy; there were just a lot of kids and a lot of food and a small space given the number of kids and the amount of food they were eating,” said McBride.
Another reason for the change is the CRC “stopped being a resource for everybody and started being a lunch room for seniors.” McBride felt like “it had become sort of intimidating for any underclassman because the place was packed with seniors.”
As a result, the CRC is now less crowded during lunch periods. But according to McBride, attendance hasn’t suffered. She reports that the students actually interested in the center’s resources aren't deterred.
Some students disagree. Senior Ellie Brannaman has to choose between eating lunch and visiting the CRC. Taking AP Biology during periods 5-6 leaves her with only half of a lunch period.
“It's kind of difficult to get in there sometimes. 6B is my only free period and the only time I can eat, so if I want to go to the CRC and have lunch, I can't,” Brannaman said.
Senior Millie Fotso also doesn’t like the new policy.
“I disagree with it because the CRC is kind of where people go to hang out and it’s a safe haven during lunch.”
McBride understands why many are upset, but she remains optimistic.
“For the most part, it's way better and we don't have smelly garbage stacked up, and we don't have pizza that I have to scrape out of the carpet,” she said. “And I think it does just keep it a little nicer and allows more room for the kids. Hopefully this will work and kids still feel welcome here, but it's not a cafeteria.”
Photo by Alyssa Curry