Dh runs out of food during sit-down lunch Eaters Were Not Provided All Listed Menu Items
By Katie Kilkenny ’10
News Staff Reporter
On Friday, April 18th, the dining hall ran out of chicken wraps—a popular lunch item for many—during community lunch. Community lunch, more commonly known as sit-down lunch, has long been a subject of controversy at Choate. It takes up free periods, serves a smaller variety of food, and apparently runs out of the food as well. “People had to find other [food choices], and they were complaining about it. Because if we’re supposed to eat [at community lunch], we might as well have food,” says Chris Aguiar ’11.
Despite all this, Tyler Agyemang ’11, like most freshmen, calls the mandatory meal “community lunch.” Many of the upper-formers use the more resistant term “sit-down lunch.” The lunch’s change of name for freshmen, however, hasn’t changed sentiments towards the commitment on the part of many. “I call it community lunch,” says Chris Aguiar ’11, “but I pretty much dislike it.” Maggie Fenney ’11 also responds to the notion that freshmen like sit-down lunch: “I don’t think it’s true because a lot of my friends don’t like it. I personally don’t like it; I’d rather have it as a free.” But among all these anti-community lunch freshmen, there are some who do not oppose the lunch. “I don’t mind it,” says Gabby Yu ’11.
The feelings of older students on the lunch haven’t changed. “Mostly what happens at sit-down lunch is that you only know one person, and the teacher tries to make conversation but it turns out awkward,” comments Andrew LaSota ’10. Brian Wysolmerski ’10 complains, “It takes up your free periods that you can use to do homework, and that just stresses you out more.”
Mr. Ford believes that only seniors can really feel the difference between regular lunch and sit-down lunch: “I would assume that the current seniors are the only students who have felt the change between the regular lunch and community lunch. They are probably the most resistant to it, whereas the freshmen are the most removed from that.”
Every form has common complaints about the mandatory meal, but most students understand the reason for having these lunches. “I think sit-down lunch is a good idea in theory, but in reality, it takes up too much of students’ time, or makes students loathe community activities,” explains Gabrielle Siegel ’10. Caroline Marcks ’10 agrees: “I think it’s a good way to meet people, but it’s just too much of a time commitment.”
Some students believe that the students’ and teachers’ attitude toward sit-down lunch is the reason why it is not enjoyable. Dan Pahl ’10 says, “Unfortunately, I think people go in with a bad attitude. Most teachers don’t want to go.” Chris Aguiar says each table is different: “It depends on the kids, because that either makes [Community Lunch] a good experience, or something I dread.” Freshman Tyler Agyemang is more optimistic: “Yes, my table is awkward, but I think that with time, we’ll get used to each other and start talking.”
Mr. Ford understands why students sometimes dislike going to sit-down lunch: “I think that the two biggest factors are the food and who the students are sitting with. The better the food and the better the people they’re sitting with, the more enjoyable experience they’re going to have.”
According to the Choate administration, Community Lunch is designed for students to gain more experience talking with adults and their peers. “The goal [of Community Lunch] is to simply bring people together in a civilized setting and to have conversation between teachers and students. Dining is traditionally a good way to bring people together. Also, the way we slow down [student’s lives for a period] to eat is a worthwhile endeavor,” says Mr. Ford.
Many students achieve this goal every Tuesday and Friday, but they do not comply without resistance. To add to all of this, the incident on Friday certainly will not encourage students to harbor a new fondness for sit-down lunch. Chris Aguiar laughs, “At least it was interesting on Friday when they actually ran out of food.”
Hungry seniors serve themselves at a recent sit-down lunch. PHOTO/David Woo ‘09
