By Andrew T.
In my opinion, the new policy has many benefits. When students leave the cafeteria early, they distract classes. If students find the rule that much of a problem, they can simply bring lunch to school and eat in the hallways or outside the library. In addition, if somebody has a real emergency, the lunch aides will let you leave; it’s not like you’re trapped. Overall, I believe the rule has a positive effect because it makes the school more responsible for the actions of underclassmen students.

By Azim Keshwani
I feel that keeping underclassmen in the cafeteria during lunch is a bad idea. It is not fair that juniors and seniors can leave but we can’t. I would rather study quietly in the library than in a noisy cafeteria. I don’t like the feeling of being trapped during a free period.

By Ashley Schulman
Not being able to leave the cafeteria is extremely restrictive and takes away many rights that underclassmen deserve. Even though this policy prevents loud hallways and a crowded library, the rule causes many inconveniences. Students argue with the lunch aides to simply go to their lockers. Freedom is something about the high school that students look forward to; this rule has a huge impact on our level of freedom. In my opinion, the hassles of arguments with lunch aides could all be avoided by doing one simple thing: revoking this abhorrent policy. The rule makes sense but should be revised to better meet the needs of students.

By Annie Transport
While the policy is understandable, I strongly oppose it. We were always told in middle school about how much freedom we get in the high school. We enter high school excited about these freedoms, but now these privileges are non-existent. In logical reasoning, it is unfair because if you want to go to the library to do homework or study for a test during your lunch period, you technically aren’t allowed any more as an underclassman. I think it is an unfair policy because it takes away some of the freedoms of being a high school student as well as the ability to do what we would like with that hour of our time — like homework.