The Lincoln Log

The busy courtyard on the first day of closed campus lunch

Abraham Lincoln High School will have a closed campus lunch starting Monday, April 9, the first day after spring break.

Students are not allowed in the main building at lunch, but are restricted to the cafeteria and courtyard, due to the fourth period Physical Education and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps classes. Security guards will guard all of the entrances to prevent all Lincoln students from leaving campus.

“It’s not if, it’s when we do it. That means people cannot be in the building because there will be classes going on. That also means people will have to stay in the courtyard because we’re going to have PE classes outside. This also means that clubs cannot meet because classes will be going on,” ALHS principal Ronald Pang said.

On Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, the school day will consist of two fourth periods. The school will be broken up into two different groups. For those students who have fourth period in the main building, lunch will remain after fourth period and before fifth period, from 11:44 a.m. to 12:29 p.m. However, for students with classes elsewhere, lunch will follow third period and students will report to their fourth period after lunch. This time frame is from 10:49 a.m. to 11:28 p.m. On these four weekdays, school begins and ends at the same times it did before closed campus lunch.

The Thursday bell schedule is slightly different from the present one. School starts at the same time, but ends earlier. Students may leave school at 11:50 a.m. if they do not have a seventh period class, and the remaining students are allowed to evacuate the campus at 12:30 p.m.

“I think the closed campus is bad because it will be so crowded, and everyone will be more agitated. It’ll get worse before it gets better. Lincoln Market will lose business because no one will go there at lunch,” junior Marilyn Kwuan said.

Some teachers at Lincoln High are concerned for the students regarding this situation.

“I do feel like we’ve come to a point where it’s necessary to do something about the situation. With the graffiti and seeing disrespect, the administration has been pretty clear about what happens if this continues, and we have to follow through with them. But it is going to be hard having this many students together,” English teacher Daniel Kim said. “When it gets hot, when there are all these people within a small, enclosed space, people are going to run into each other, and it might be harder to deal with each other. I worry about how we’ll be able to get along, so hopefully we won’t bump into each other and angry each other but can really see the opportunity to get our act together.”

Businesses in the neighborhood who are usually crowded during lunch from hungry Lincoln students will also be affected, including Lincoln Market.

“I think it’s going to suck because there’s going to be a lot of fights during lunch, and we’re probably going to lose a lot of business. I don’t think it’s going to work out,” Lincoln Market cashier Usta Rahib said. Lincoln Market has resided on 22nd Avenue since the 1940’s.