Students Scramble to Find Lunch Spots
Historically at Galloway, all students have “their place” on campus. This has been a crucial part of the Galloway experience for as long as I can remember. Whether it be the booths along the porches or a specific spot in the library, these spaces have been more than just a spot to hang out. They have provided moments of relaxation and decompression.
As students begin getting used to the Northside campus, one thing has become apparent: there are not enough spots for students to gather. The original Galloway campus was praised for all of its nooks and crannies for students to spend their time between classes. These spaces provided areas where students could recharge and socialize before heading back to class. There were even enough spaces to accommodate for the weather, with students sitting on the green and the porches in the warm months, and the library and inside spaces in the colder months.
The largest change that students have faced when finding places to eat is the library. At the original Galloway campus, the library was the largest and main area for students to eat. While at times the old Galloway library could be quite loud and messy, it was a place where all students could eat lunch and have enough space for all of their friends.
With the implementation of the new “no lunch in the library” policy, students are now facing the challenge of finding alternative places to eat in a new space they are unfamiliar with. As of right now, most students have found a regular place to eat, but with the much smaller size of the new campus, a lot of these places are overcrowded. Avner Belsky (‘25) gives his thoughts on the matter: “I sit in the gazebo most days during lunch. It’s designed to hold around 10 people, but most days 15 or even 20 people try to eat lunch, forcing some of them to eat lunch on the ground.” While I (and I am sure the rest of the student body) understand that the faculty and staff are doing as much as possible to make this school just as nice as the original campus, students having to sit on the ground is rather uncomfortable.
A problem that could soon arise is the limited indoor seating. The weather has been great almost every day, but as fall and winter are approaching, students will have to find places inside to eat due to the cold weather. The cafeteria seating only holds around 20 people and the commons are already overfilled with people, so students will most likely retreat to teachers' classrooms. This could become an issue because teachers also need a place to eat lunch and a lot of the time they choose their own classroom.
As Galloway Northside continues to develop, addressing the shortage of student spaces should be a top priority. By listening to student feedback and learning from current challenges, the administration can make better decisions to enhance the campus experience. Making sure that students have lots of places to eat, relax, and socialize, is essential for maintaining the fun and supportive learning environment that makes Galloway the school it is. As we adapt to the new campus, thoughtful planning and responsiveness to student needs will be essential for creating a campus where everyone feels they have their spot to claim as their own.
By Gavin Morrissey