The food at Flint Hill is always a buzzing topic throughout the halls, but throughout the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year, something has been different. Rather than students talking about the food itself, they are discussing the ways in which members of our community are getting to their food. There has been a problem with students cutting in the lunch and Igloo lines, and many people have different opinions on how the issue should be resolved. Some think that this is something that needs to be fixed urgently, while others believe that the traffic of the halls is just fine, as everybody is getting their food. The SCA has taken responsibility for this topic and while they are still assessing what the best plan of action is, I was able to interview various members of our community and ask them for their views to create my own opinion.
For a bit of background information, this problem is not entirely new to the school. The Igloo has had existing problems with students rushing the kiosk in a state of disorder, racing to get their office hour or break time snack first. Initially, the SCA’s response was to email, warning students that if cutting continued in any line throughout the school, there would be repercussions. After this did not work, they implemented sanctions to disincentivize students to cut and be aggressive throughout food lines. I was able to interview Junior Karan Chugh, who is an active member of the SCA and the school’s current parliamentarian. He told me, “This is a test because if the lunch line problems continue as punishment, the igloo will be closed temporarily.” Karan explained to me that student leaders believe that the behavior in the lunch line has not improved, while the Igloo has moderately.
Members of the SCA have expressed their opinions to peers that the cutting of the lunch line and igloo is not a representation of the core values, and this is why the igloo would need to be closed if there wasn’t any progress. Personally, I believe shutting down the igloo is an extreme reaction to the problems with organizing students in line. The Igloo has been a part of Flint Hill for decades, and parents are able to volunteer their time throughout the school day. Students who grow hungry while learning are able to eat during their recreational time. The National Institute of Health has studies proving that eating enough has a direct correlation to the academic success of students. The snacks sold at the Igloo are catered to the students, increasing dopamine levels and relieving stress in our environment.
More importantly, the revenue from the Igloo goes towards tuition for students on financial aid. The Igloo helps diversify our community and is a symbol of two of our core values: respect and value all equally and lead with compassion. The Igloo does an immense amount of good for our community, and if there must be a punishment for the actions of a few people, it should be something less impactful.
Collectively, this issue could be avoided if everyone decided to do the right thing and not cut in the lunch line in the first place. The SCA is an elected group of students chosen because their peers believe they will represent their class and community well. The faculty shouldn’t have to deal with students creating problems in what their lunch break is as well, and they should have the overall authority to determine what the best corrective action is fit. I personally believe that closing the Igloo temporarily would not be the smartest approach to this situation, and instead, having individual repercussions, like if a student is seen cutting, they get a detention instead. Closing the Igloo would cause tension between the student representatives, general class body, and faculty members. Additionally, the Igloo is a part of our school that helps people be able to access the education we are so lucky to be receiving, while also improving the daily life of members of our community.
