Students harbor polarizing opinions about which cafeteria is the optimal eating environment…

Carlie Sack | Staff Writer

As the lunch bells ring in Mason High School, students face a grueling decision: eating in the large commons or the small commons.

Sophomore Kate Kraatz said that she eats in the small commons because it is less crowded and much quieter.

“[The small commons] is a lot less crowded, and it is a lot easier to find seats, so you can sit with your friends,” Kraatz said.

Senior Stephen Hendrickson said that he also favors the peacefulness of the small commons.

“I couldn’t handle the congestion [of the large commons], so I moved out,” Hendrickson said. “I left the chaos of the large for the serenity of the small.”

While the low noise level is the reason that some students prefer the small commons, it is the same reason as to why others dislike it, according to freshman Jen Center.

“The small commons is too quiet,” Center said. “It’s too awkward.”

Freshman Katie Darrah said that she agrees that the quietness of the room is eerie.

“You feel like you’re being watched,” Darrah said.

Center said that the atmosphere of the small commons is stifling, while the large commons allows students more freedom.

“[The large commons] is bigger and louder, and you feel more comfortable talking,” Center said. “You can’t be yourself and be loud [in the small commons].”

Senior Justin Lightfield said the loudness and freedom to be outgoing of the large commons are not appealing him. Lightfield said that he tries to avoid the “fast-paced lifestyle” of those who eat in the large commons by eating in the small commons.

Junior Lynne Liao said that she eats in the small commons for more practical reasons, such as proximity to her fourth bell classroom and a shorter lunch line.

“The [lunch] line is smaller and you don’t feel like you’re getting run over,” Liao said.

Kraatz said that the closeness of her classroom in the F-wing also helped to determine her choice of cafeteria.

“A lot of music people eat in here, [like] band and orchestra people because our classes are so close,” Kraatz said.

According to Center, students’ personalities determine the lunchroom in which they eat.

“More outgoing people eat [in the large commons],” Center said.

Hendrickson said that he believes the commons affects student’s behavior.

“There are major differences between a large commoner and a small commoner,” Hendrickson said. “Large commoners seem a bit more rude. They are animalistic.”

The division between students’ choice of cafeteria often separates friends during lunchtime, according to Center.

“I don’t know why [my friends] eat in [the small commons],” Center said. “It can be frustrating, because they don’t want to eat in [the large commons], and I don’t want to eat in [the small commons].”

But Lightfield said that the deciding factor of the choice between cafeterias is the sunlit atmosphere of the small commons.

“It’s always sunny in the small commons,” Lightfield said.

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