Chaos has ensued recently in BHS due to the new vending machine rules. Students have not been happy with the new policy: all vending machines will be unusable from 7:30am-2:30am. This means that food and drinks can only be bought from the vending machines before or after school. This has worried students—how can they get through the day without the access to food and drinks?
The Eagle’s Cry interviewed students and teachers about how they feel about the new vending machine rules. We should disclose our subjectivity here: some students in The Eagle’s Cry utilize the vending machine during their journalism period. Since many students have either no lunch, or lunch seventh period, a quick trip—approved by our teacher—to the vending machine serves as a quick boost. Also, many gym or yoga students may be finishing off their mile runs, completing difficult workouts, or just find themselves in need of hydration to quench their thirst with a Powerade or Vitamin Water from the vending machines, next to the gym. The ability to do that now is gone—at least until 2:30pm…which can feel like forever when you’re hungry.
We interviewed students about how they feel about this new rule. Sophomores Elizabeth Trimarco and Sophia Marullo said, “We used to go during fifth period! Now I am going to be starving throughout the day!”
Another Sophomore, Amanda Schneider, with lunch only every other day said, “I only have lunch every other day, and sometimes do not get to eat breakfast in the morning. The vending machine is where I get my snack during the day, so I am not hungry.”
Mr. Malossi explained that, “I agree with shutting them down. Any distraction from the beauty of English and journalism should be vanquished immediately…if not sooner.”
Senior Gianna Gravelli disagrees, “We need to bring [the vending machines] back!”
This new regulation is just so confusing. Vending machines sales will be decreasing, and our stomachs will be growling. If going to the vending machines during school hours is a problem with students, wouldn’t it be easier to address these problems directly with the students causing problems, instead of ruining it for the whole school?
The Eagle’s Cry had a chance to talk to our principal, Mr. Jantz, regarding the new regulations concerning the vending machines.
Mr. Jantz said, “People were leaving classes to ‘go to the bathroom’ but then walk back to class with bags of chips. It was a distraction.”
Mr. Jantz continued, “Plus, our vending machines were never on during the school day. We got a new system this year, and until now, the system hasn’t worked for the machines to be turned off during the day.”
The Eagle’s Cry followed up by asking what hungry students should do now, being that one of their main sources of quick to-go food is closed at their most convenient times.
Mr. Jantz said, “Well, most students have lunch, so they can buy food then, but otherwise we have a breakfast cart open for the first two periods of the day, so the kids can grab a quick breakfast or snack. Or bring food from home!”
Finally, Mr. Jantz said, “We installed a new water fountain right near the gym, so kids can have a sip of water or fill up their water bottle, conveniently next to the gymnasium!”
As much as we are grateful for the accessibility of snacks and lunch in the lunchroom, and our breakfast cart in the morning, the vending machines are a great, quick way to fuel us when we are hungry in the middle of the day. We respect the reasons why these rules went into place, but students are still not pleased, and so aren’t their hungry stomachs.
