By now, most Pioneer students are aware that Pioneer has returned to a fully closed campus. Seniors and juniors alike were disappointed to hear Mr. Smith’s announcement that upperclassmen would no longer be allowed to leave for lunch on Fridays. We think this decision was made in haste, without considering student input, and that open campus should be restored — at the very least for seniors.

Many students are asking what privileges remain for upperclassmen at Pioneer. Now, with no open campus lunch, senior parking spots, or other policies exclusive to seniors, it seems that the only special thing remaining for seniors is…graduation. As students mature, they should be given the opportunity to gain autonomy over their decisions and prove their responsibility. Open campus was a way to recognize this.

In comparison to other Ann Arbor Public Schools, the Pioneer policies seem rather stringent. For example, students at Community High School have engaged in off campus lunch for all four years of their high school career. It seems that the Pioneer administration does not trust their upperclassmen enough to leave for lunch, while Community trusts their freshmen to do so. Allowing upperclassmen to engage in off campus lunches, with the agreement of parents and administrators, teaches them how to manage themselves responsibly. Moreover, this privilege could be used to incentivize students to be on time, get passing grades, and show good behavior at school.

Off campus lunch and privileges for upperclassmen are a chance to prepare teenagers for college and real world responsibilities. Time management, financial planning, and organization are just some of the skills that are fostered by off campus lunch.

More than that, off campus lunch offers upperclassmen something to look forward to. Seniors that have been in high school for three years deserve a much needed break from campus during lunch on Fridays. Off campus lunch lets students take a break and decompress from the loud, chaotic, and stressful environment of high school and the college application process, allowing upperclassmen to return to school more relaxed and ready to learn.

Questions about the safety, timeliness, and well-being of students are valid concerns. However, with the proper protocol and procedures, like off-campus lunch ID cards, tardy consequences, and parent-student communication, off campus lunch can be restored in a safe and educational manner.