Throughout the year, an increasing number of students found their way to the library looking for a quiet place to eat lunch. Whether they were there to study, read or escape from the overwhelming atmosphere of the cafeteria, many felt comforted by the open and relatively unpopulated area in which they could spread out and keep to themselves without fear of being disturbed.

“It’s just been my safe space,” said senior Carelyse Bello. “It feels sacred here. I feel quiet. I don’t feel obligated to be anywhere or do anything here.”

Her thought process was shared by many others, as the amount of students eating lunch in the library continued to grow through the months. In some cases, as many as 80 students would come in a single day, according to head librarian Mrs. McCarthy. The murmur of noise from lunch students in the unusually crowded library, while not a problem during otherwise empty periods, made it hard for the librarian to hold classes at the same time.

More pressing, however, were the food-related issues that presented themselves as the school year went on. This included liquids and spoiled food being thrown into trash cans, crumbs and wrappers left on tables, and in one particularly troublesome incident, an entire cup of spilled broccoli that required a carpet cleaner to be washed, said McCarthy.

These problems continued to worsen as the amount of students eating in the library increased, highlighting its existing faults as a lunchroom. The messes spilled on the carpets and dumped in the trash cans could not be properly treated every day by the busy custodial staff. This left the librarian and aides to clean up on their own despite their hectic schedules. McCarthy often found herself in situations in which she had to clean off tables prior to meetings and classes.

These difficulties eventually culminated with the announcement that on Feb. 3: food would no longer be allowed in the library, and all lunches were to be eaten in the cafeteria.

The decision was not an easy one for McCarthy to make.

“I really felt bad because I want to be a space for people to come to,” she said. “When students started to ask if they could eat lunch here, their reasoning was a quieter space, wanting to study, and maybe being a bit too overwhelmed in the cafeteria, and I wanted to be that place, so that’s why I said yes.”

She expressed a deep compassion for the students who came to eat in the library, and since its closing has continued to advocate and support students looking for another place to eat.

The news was met with sadness from the students that had grown used to eating in the library. Many of them had found a comfortable routine that was a welcome change from the cafeteria’s abrasiveness, leading to feelings of loss.

“It was really sad,” said Bello. “I know a lot of people who eat in here, and if they don’t eat in here, they’re not going to eat anywhere else.”

Her concerns are not unreasonable. In the time that the library has been open for lunch, it has attracted students with social anxiety, eating disorders and a plethora of other issues that can often be exacerbated by the loud cafeteria. Without that safe option, it is inevitable that there will be students eating in hallways, bathrooms or forgoing lunch entirely. While the cafeteria is the default choice for many, some students like Bello don’t see it as an option.

“I try to eat in between classes so that I can come to the library for all of lunch,” she said. “It’s [the library] or the cafeteria, and I’m choosing here.”

The cafeteria, while spacious, can often feel crowded by the vast amount of students that eat there every day. It is filled with students talking over one other and getting increasingly louder, often resulting in yelling that lasts the entire period. Some, like senior Macy Aurilio, were frequently put off by the atmosphere while trying to eat.

“I’ve had days where I was like ‘I cannot handle this today,’ because it would just be so overwhelming,” she said. “And I just wouldn’t eat. I’d say ‘alright, it’s just breakfast and dinner today.’”

Her dilemma is concerningly common amongst high school students. Many students refrain from lunch entirely due to a wide variety of reasons, including lack of options, discomfort eating in front of others, social anxiety or body concerns. Eliminating even one of these causes could be an immense help for those that are uncomfortable eating in the busy cafeteria.

While expecting the library to be able to continue to meet the needs of these students in its current state is unreasonable, I believe it is imperative that we work towards finding another space to accommodate those looking for a quiet area to eat their lunches.

One potential solution could be a repurposed classroom, conference room, or another underutilized area for students looking for quiet to go. The space could be used for other activities or purposes during non-lunch periods while still giving students an appointed place for eating in a silent area.

A second option is the creation of a specific, smaller space within the library that could be modified to accommodate those who want to eat in the quiet space. A more contained area could make it easier to maintain and keep tidy, thus lessening the pressure on the head librarian to clean up after the students.

Another alternative, if no other spaces are available, is designating an existing portion of the cafeteria as a “quiet zone.” This section of the lunchroom would allow for students who are looking for a silent space to study, read or eat in peace without constant disturbances by implementing a no-talking rule in that area.

Those that struggle with eating, especially in social settings, deserve to be accommodated and supported. It is crucial that we continue working toward creating an environment in which students feel safe and comfortable eating their lunches, no matter their circumstances.