For years now, students at UC High have been complaining that they are not allowed the privilege of an off-campus lunch. However, some of the adults and district staff members involved with the San Diego Unified School District have a different opinion. According to the district website, the Board of Education adopted a closed campus policy for all high schools in 1995 after a series of complaints, tardiness, and terrible accidents (sandi.net). With a large amount of students driving to and from UC, a revision of this rule that both the students and the adults could agree on would greatly increase student moral.

Rancho Bernardo High and Torrey Pines High are among the various schools where an off-campus lunch is allowed. Although UC students would like to believe that they are trustworthy enough to enjoy this privilege, the risks that come with allowing students to leave and return to school are keeping the district from re-implementing the open-campus policy.

To most students, many of the lunches served at school are less than appetizing. By permitting students to leave campus, UC would be opening the gates to a number of appealing, and possibly more nutritious, food options. It would both encourage students and give them an opportunity to eat a filling lunch, something that, according to a children’s nutrition website, “increases performance and improves behavior” (school-lunch.org).

A lot of Centurions, especially juniors and seniors, can’t seem to understand why such a restriction has been placed on them. Senior Cassandra Berta said, “We should be  trusted to make the right decisions while we are off campus.” It might surprise some to know that when UC was opened it was intended to be a strictly open-campus school, because the mall and other fast food restaurants were just a drive away.

Vice Principal Heidi Murphy said, “I think that off-campus lunch is a great idea if we could just get rid of all of the tardies that it creates.” Although time does seem to pose a problem, it is a slight issue that could be worked out. If students are able to drive themselves to school and get there on time with the correct time management, they are surely capable of making it back to class before fifth period begins.

Hopefully, some kind of compromise can be made. For example, a solution would be to allow juniors and seniors to go off campus as long as parental approval is provided beforehand and they meet certain requirements. Ideas of compromise such as these should be applied to this issue at UC High.