by Luke Dinkel

Some students have been searching and struggling to find a place to sit during their lunch, while others cannot find a single friend to sit with. 1^st and 2^nd lunch seem to be overflowing with students, while 3^rd and 4^th lunch are quite the opposite.

Why are two of the lunches packed? What are the students feelings about their lunches?

Lunches from the 2021-2022 school year seemed to be different when it came to seating.

“Do you mean the number of students in a given lunch,” Dean of Students Mr. Jeff Kronenwetter said. “If so, probably so comparably to other years. Lunches are designed to be as equal with students as possible, within reason. 1st lunch traditionally is larger because we have our afternoon CWCTC students in that lunch before they leave the building for their afternoon classes. Child Development is also 1st lunch because of when the pre-school kids come for the Cub’s Den and our Freshman Seminar and most sciences in either 1st or 4th lunch, so those classes aren’t interrupted in the middle of a presentation or a lab.”

The first two lunches are packed, while the last two don’t have many students.

“Child Development is also 1st lunch because of when the pre-school kids come for the Cub’s Den and our Freshman Seminar and most sciences in either 1st or 4th lunch,” Mr. Kronenwetter said. “We do this so those classes aren’t interrupted in the middle of a presentation or a lab. We have over 800 students in the building and they are spread out throughout 4 lunches. We try to get it as close to even as possible, all while balancing when certain classes can be run and where all students need to be.”

Students seem to have different opinions than Mr. Kronenwetter.

“Compared to last year, my lunch definitely seems way smaller,” sophomore Natalia Backos said. “I had fourth lunch for all my freshman year, and I have to say it was completely packed for both semesters. Some of the tables were practically overflowing. Now, I can easily see at least four completely empty tables at a once packed fourth lunch.”

With that many empty tables, some might believe that it is a waste of space. Some students are wondering why their lunch is so quiet and empty while their friend’s lunch is loud and full of students.

With CTC students in first lunch, it is hard for them to buy their lunch and make the bus in time.

“It is very hard, I have to rush down to the cafeteria from the third floor to try and get my lunch in time so that I can eat before I have to leave,” junior Gabrielle Hult said.

When it comes to waiting in line for lunch, first seems to be the longest.

“It takes usually about 10 to 15 minutes,” Hult added.

Lunch is supposed to be a break for students when they can eat and interact with friends, but with smaller lunches students have a lesser chance of being with friends.

“I feel like it’s bland, there are almost no people in it,” junior Ryan Ebersole said. “The first two lunches are much busier than my lunch, and I think that they should spread it out better.”