There are only three scenarios where I deliberately don’t make eye contact with someone: when I walk by a crazy person ranting about how the internet and vaccines are controlling their mind, when I’m pressing “no tip” right in front of a cashier, and when someone knocks on the door across from my lunch table in Caf. 2.
Every day I have to watch tens of people knock on the door during lunch—and every day I help none of them. Now, I don’t think I’m a bad guy. If I opened the door for every one of my hungry peers, I wouldn’t have any time to eat myself. What I do believe is that there are a few fundamental issues with how moving into and between the cafeterias works.
For one, why do the doors automatically lock? I’ve seen the doors be unlocked before. So, it’s not like there’s some weird flaw in the doors themselves; someone is choosing to keep them fastened. The only hint of justification I can think of is how it could help in the case of an emergency. Obviously, if there’s a threat, you don’t want them to be able to enter the densely populated cafeteria. However, the school isn’t in a perpetual state of crisis, so this is faulty reasoning for the doors being eternally bolted. All the locked doors do is inconvenience students and make those who sit near the doors (like me) feel bad for everyone wandering the halls.
I wouldn’t have to feel so bad about keeping my peers trapped outside if the staff members watching over the cafeteria just let them in. There is almost always a staff member stationed near the side entrances. If their job is to open the door, why don’t they ever do it? There will be students outside begging to be let in, but the staff members either don’t hear or simply don’t care. If they aren’t supposed to let people in, then why do I see them occasionally open the doors? If their job is to prevent students from leaving the cafeterias, then they are doing a very bad job. I have never been stopped from leaving during lunch, nor have I been asked where I’m going. Regardless, the function of those stationed by the doors is very confused or contradictory.
Alternatively, these people are not in charge of the doors and are instead placed at them as a way of evenly spacing out. But, if they are advisers, they should be the ones opening the doors when students are trying to enter. They are clearly permitted to; I’ve seen them do it.
In addition to general entry, the system of passing between the cafeterias is silly. Students must walk through the courtyard in order to switch between Caf. 1 and Caf. 2, which is completely unnecessary and inconvenient. Most annoyingly, this system forces students to face the elements whenever they want to switch. When students open the door, they can let a cold gust inside, much to the discomfort of everyone sitting nearby.
Staff should just let students move between cafeterias using the adjacent hallway. It’s far more convenient for everyone trying to switch cafeterias. If there is a concern that people will take advantage of this to sneak out during lunch (even though there is, at this time, nothing stopping you from leaving through the side doors), just station staff members in the hallway to monitor crossing.
To summarize, the current policies for passing into and between the cafeterias is poorly optimized and very inconvenient to students. The doors should all be unlocked, allowing hallway-goers easy entry and sparing those inside the guilt of locking them out. Additionally, staff members stationed by the doors should have a more clear or heavily enforced purpose in relation to leaving and entering the cafeteria. And finally, crossing between cafeterias should be made more comfortable to students by allowing them to do so indoors.
