Tragedy of the (Galloway) Commons
For many, the commons is a comfortable place to meet with friends between classes. For others, the commons is seen as a devilish hellscape that must be avoided at all costs.
It’s easy to understand why the commons is packed during tutorials and lunches; the space creates a duality between leisure and productivity. The couches allow for relaxation, while the tables allow for work. This makes the space ideal for collaboration. When you combine this with the vending machines, bathrooms, and the brilliant senior decided decor, it is obvious that the commons is one of the most versatile spaces in Gresham. But there is a known stigma surrounding the commons: it belongs to the upperclassman. This further proves that it is by no means a shared space.
The locations of different classrooms suggest that the commons are more catered to upperclassmen. While all math classes reside in the west wing, both english 9 and 10, political science, and world history are held in the east wing. With so many underclassmen classes in the east wing, underclassmen are a rare commodity in the west wing. Many upperclassmen have a schedule that never warrants a trip through the east wing, so it is only natural that upperclassmen inhabit the commons, while underclassmen inhabit the library.
But could this really be a matter of convenience? I suspected something bigger, and I knew if I wanted to get to the bottom of this, I’d have to use science. I began to do some research on the matter, pouring through a vast collection of data, searching day and night for some kind of answer.
Hypothesis: Underclassmen don’t want to sit with upperclassmen.
Experiment: Have an open space in the commons and see if an underclassmen would take it.
Independent Variable: Number of upperclassmen in the commons
Dependent Variable: Number of underclassmen who take the seat
Procedure:
Set up an open space on the couch.
Sanitize the area completely.
Lay out bait for the unsuspecting prey (i.e. fruit snacks or other colorful treats)
Ask any and all teachers to vacate the commons. They may scare off the prey.
Add a senior to the commons.
Record the amount of underclassmen.
Repeat steps 5 and 6 until the commons reaches capacity.
Results: I only wanted to do the experiment once, so there were like 11 upperclassmen and no underclassmen.
Conclusion: The hypothesis was accepted. Underclassmen do not want to sit with upperclassmen. Perhaps we can chalk this up to “psychogeography,” a term coined by Guy Debord in 1955. Psychogeography explores how our environment impacts our emotions and behaviors. Because of its tight space, the commons’ claustrophobic atmosphere encourages juniors and seniors to mingle. It’s almost impossible to pass through the commons without being seen, and as a result, many underclassmen avoid the commons, fearing that it might lead to an awkward situation. The library’s role as a study environment causes tables to be occupied by studying students of all grade levels, including large groups of underclassmen. Because of this, the library is notorious for having tables that are packed with underclassmen cliques, further driving upperclassmen away.
There are two Galloway spaces that draw in travelers from far and wide: Chaddick and the booths at the end of the east wing. In both of these spaces, there is no shame in quietly keeping to your own group, Chaddick because of its space, and the booths because of their separation. Individuals can navigate these spaces while avoiding awkward social interaction. No one wants to speak to a large group of unknowns, and during lunch, it’s only natural that groups form.
We all innately realize that this is the way things are, but upperclassmen are generally happy with the current situation since everyone gets a chance to be an upperclassmen. In the words of Elliott Gruenhut, a second semester senior, “Everyone has their time.”
While science shows that the system exists as a response to teenage instinct, screw science. This grade hierarchy exists at most typical high schools, and Galloway is at its best when it refuses to submit to the conventions of other schools. Most aren’t willing to admit it, but this separation between grades really exists because upperclassmen believe that underclassmen are annoying. While it is true overall that youngsters are naturally not as mature, Galloway students should feel accepted regardless of grade level. There are plenty of irksome underclassmen, but in creating welcoming spaces and with proper role models, there is an opportunity to aid them in their maturity.
Sure, we could tell underclassmen reading this to just wait it out. But, we all used to be underclassmen trying to stand out amongst a stereotype. We have the power to shape our community. We have the power to make Galloway feel like a family. But we also have the power to do nothing. After all, it was seniors that created the current system, and only seniors who can change it.
By Chris Nieves