by Jared Perlo

Student Faculty Administration members conclused the calendar year during Wedensday’s meeting by releasing the details for the proposed construction of a student hangout area in the cafeteria.

The project, which has been the SFA’s main focus so far this legislative year, would allocate part of the nook in the cafeteria to be a relaxing place where students can spend their free time during school.

One of the main goals of the plan is to alleviate the overcrowding of the Library Learning Commons, which has become a go-to socializing space.

The design competition, in which students, teachers and parents can submit potential designs for the space, has just been instituted by the SFA, with the winner receiving a $100 gift card c0-sponsored by the SFA, PTSO and Whitsons Culinary Group.

Details and an entry form are available on the Library Learning Commons’ website.

Sophomore Terry Altherr brought up the meeting’s other big discussion point: whether sophomores have open campus privileges during canceled classes.

Principal Jennifer Price maintained that ever since the open campus rules were agreed upon four years ago, second semester sophomores have always had to remain in the cafeteria during canceled classes, but were free to leave during scheduled free periods.

“When you have a canceled class, you arrive at school expecting to have that class. A canceled class is not a free block,” Price said.
She also reminded sophomores how lucky they are to have open campus at all.

Price said, “Next year as a junior, this year’s sophomores will have open campus during both canceled classes and study halls. It’s a gradual transition.”

SFA members also briefly weighed in on a sophomore petition, signed by a hundred students, to leave the cafeteria during canceled classes.

Senior Caleb Bromberg, SFA student co-chair, summed up the organization’s sentiment toward the petition by saying, “That is a terrible idea.”