With all the new buildings, there is an unprecedented amount of walls on campus. These walls divide students and have resulted in a culture of exclusivity taking root within our school community. Whether intentional or not, this trend has left many students feeling overlooked or left out. As Carol Lu Lyn (’26) puts it, “Just cause I’m five feet doesn’t mean everyone has to look down on me.” The school has responded to these concerns, stating, “Desperate times call for desperate measures.” Thus, plans have been made to enforce some bold new measures, which will be coming to campus in the following weeks.
We’ll be putting the “family” in “family-style” with the implementation of our new and improved inclusive table located in the Dining Commons. Our community will have an opportunity like never before to engage in shoulder-to-shoulder conversation at our banquet-style experience, which includes one long and winding table snaking through the entire room. We would like to recognize our dear friends, the Whovillians of Whoville, for being the inspiration behind the grand plan. Additionally, to ensure that we become a fully integrated unit, a timer will be set for every two minutes. The alarm will signal for students on one side of the table to stand up and rotate a designated number of spots to the right in order to maximize interactions and the overall experience. Monsieur LeBat, an avid proponent of this change, declared “VIVA LA COMUNIDAD.”
To promote inclusivity and engagement, all traditional classrooms will be transformed into conversation pits. Say goodbye to the rigid rows and desks of the past, and say hello to sunken seating areas designed to encourage discussion, collaboration, and eye contact! No student will be left out of the conversation—quite literally! I mean, they’re trapped in a pit!
Finally, every building on campus—from the famed Andre House to the brand new Eggers Innovation Center—will be rebuilt completely out of glass. Walls are physical symbols of division; they separate students from one another and stand in the way of connection. With glass buildings, there will be no barriers between students. Everyone will always be able to see each other, and no one will ever feel alone. Inclusivity and platonic relationship specialist Mr. Aluv Pepulle reacted to this change, saying, “Glass is gas! As schools take action to challenge exclusivity, I know that glass buildings will boost positive relationships between classmates. Saint Francis should be proud of taking this momentous step toward the future of education.”
Keep your eye out over the next couple of weeks as the school carries out these massive improvements to our social environment. Whether that looks like speed dating in the Dining Commons, partaking in deep conversations (both literally and figuratively), or waving to your friend in fifth period chemistry class during your world history class, we hope that all remain open-minded to these new school wide policies and accept this new era of community, inclusivity, and engagement like never before.
