Pro/Con: Food and drinks in class

VICTOR RODRIGUEZ vrodriguez.roundupnews@gmail.com

Hungry students are not happy students, especially when they are denied access to food or drinks by a professor on a power trip.

Pierce College should allow eating in the classroom.

We spend endless hours trying to learn the material in order to achieve academic success. What good does that do us if we can’t focus on anything other than the ungodly sounds our stomachs make when all that’s inside is an IOU?

It’s almost necessary to skip breakfast if someone wants to make it to campus on time. The typical morning class begins at 8 a.m.

The world is not magically brought into existence with all students and teachers in the classroom ready to learn. Everyone has a morning routine. For some, that includes an exceptionally long commute or a struggle to find a parking spot.

Furthermore, back-to-back classes make it difficult to get a proper meal during passing periods. Those precious 10 minutes may provide a grace period if the next class is in the general area, but that luxury is nonexistent to the many people who could have a class in the Village that precedes a grueling climb up the Art Hill.

Let’s not forget the fact that some students have reasons to eat frequently. Some medical ailments require constant nourishment.

According to a study conducted by the American Diabetes Association, 29 million Americans live with the disease. Part of the lifestyle includes regularlyscheduled meals at specific periods throughout the day.

Hunger is relentless and triggers primal instincts that could have adverse effects. You could become irritable, unpleasant, sleepy or completely unfocused.

Maslow’s hierarchy of needs definitely comes into play. No rational person could focus on a lecture concerning the various complexities of human life in a psychology class if there’s a vending machine just outside the classroom that has a Snickers bar with your name on it.

Communication Studies Major

-Corrections-

MARC DIONNE mdionne.roundupnews@gmail.com @marc_d_photog

Consumption of food and drinks should not be allowed in classrooms.

If no food and drinks are allowed in class, there will be no crumbs, spills or other residue that could attract unwanted creatures into the room.

A lack of food in class would also eliminate the risk of stains on the chairs, floor and desks, since foods can be a messy ordeal.

There is no need to eat or drink in the class, especially when most teachers give breaks during class and typically many classes are at least an hour and a half, which it’s safe to say you likely will not starve.

Accidental spills of drinks on the electronics would be nonexistent if there were no drinks in class, which would save money on repairs or replacement of an item lost to liquid damage.

The possibility of accidental spills on the electronics would be nonexistent if there were no drinks in class, which would save money on repairs or replacement of an item lost to damage.

Food wrappers, leftovers and sweet drinks can pile up in classroom trash cans and attract ants or cockroaches, which could create potential health concerns.

This no food policy would also lower the risks associated with food allergies, since students may be unaware of a classmate’s allergies to something they eat in class.

Eating and drinking also makes distracting noises. The opening of bags, bottles, loud chewing and many of the other sounds associated with eating can hamper other students’ abilities to hear a lecture.

Restrictions on food and drinks in classes have been around for awhile in systems like LAUSD. When you eat before class, it can help prevent hunger during class and can typically keep the person focused on the class rather than on their empty stomach.

No food and drinks in classrooms is a great benefit to all and just keeps the classroom clean and efficient.