For the past two years, Lake Shore has funded a giant new project: making “The Hub.” Recently, there has been a strict outlaw on this very Hub. 

“The Hub” is a new space that the lunchroom once was, except they added a conversation pit, couches, and different types of flexible seating. 

Recently, students have been banned from sitting freely during class periods. Students have collectively thought that this ban was unfair. Many upperclassmen have hybrid classes and nowhere to stay but some students use it as a place to ditch classes and relax. So, what is the consensus? Was the ban altogether the right move?

The ban began with an email from Dr. Bross the Principal stating, “Students are not allowed in the hub during class time unless they are there with their teacher. If a student is on a hybrid hour, they must leave the building or report to the assigned classroom. Campus monitors have been told to clear students out, return them to their classes, and ensure that students are where they are supposed to be. Any students that give the campus monitors a hard time for checking in on them or asking where they should be or asking them to report to their assigned locations will be referred to the admin.”

Dr. Bross justifies the ban by saying that they need more supervision to be in the hub.

Alania Handy, junior, also believes that it’s unfair. She said, “Why spend thousands of dollars if we’re not going to put it to good use…” and “Next semester I have a hybrid and I don’t have a car so I don’t know what I’m supposed to do during hybrids and I can’t go home.”

Some students may cause trouble, but upperclassmen who have a hybrid should have some trust instilled in them. Lake Shore should have more designated spots for people who need A quiet place to work or maybe have a staff member watching them. We should take as many opportunities to use this new and approved part of the school.

Cecilia Beaver, senior, had a similar neutral belief. She said, “I feel that it’s reasonable because no one is supervising them, but why have it if we are not going to use it?” 

Beaver found ways to justify both agreeing or disagreeing with the ban but there seems to be an overall agreement that a total ban is unnecessary. There are a lot of people who do skip in there and it definitely would be hard to monitor but we spent so much time and money just to not utilize it.

We think the ban was unnecessary, but trying to ward off skipping and misuse was not. We think creating an option that teachers can send down their students with the new smart pass feature. This takes away half of the worry for staff. Teachers can approve responsible kids to do their work, but it also allows staff to know where they are if a problem occurs. The best of both worlds; a creative but practical solution that simulates life after where trust is instilled but also still cautionary.