As you wrestle with your mini umbrella, it twists and breaks as the rain mercilessly soaks your skin, hair, and clothes. Ah yes, the delight of an outdoor campus in winter!
You seek shelter, yet you’re in the 514 acre campus of SD, conveniently in the heart of the cafeteria and high school building. You run; your new, white shoes graze through the mud as you seek shelter in the library. Of course, it’s full of freshmen who skipped eating to claim their seats. Your second choice, but your last resort, is the cafeteria. As you reach for the door knob, the chef inside locks the door, signaling that eating time is over.
No, you can’t hide from the rain.
The worst part is, you can’t do anything but sit on the field in despair of the wet rain as it drops more aggressively into your eyes and wonder, “What if there was somewhere I could go for the rest of lunch?”
Let’s face it, we need a place for students to find shelter when they are not in class.
You might be thinking, “But Marlee, there are spaces, aren’t there?
Well.. Sure, there are “places.” The health center?”
Only for the sick. Yet there was once a time…. There was a room where you could study, sip tea and chill in a nice steady state…It was close to counselors, displaying flourishing support for students within one community! That was at least, until it was transformed into a classroom. I guess there was one more history room needed.
What about teachers’ classrooms?
Maybe, but who wants to spend their break in the same room they sit in all day? Even the hallways offer nothing but hard floors and zero couches.
Yet, outside there’s an abundance of benches, but what will that do for the students in the rain and cold? I can assure you this is not the singing in the rain musical. This is northern California on a rainy windy day where we’re all seeking shelter!
Of course there’s still the library. Yet, with a student body of nearly 400 students they’re simply not enough space to accommodate everyone.
Luckily, there’s a new student center being built near the pool. However, it’s not finished yet and while it will be useful for boarding students on weekends and after school, it’s inconveniently located from where students gather during the school day for classes.
A space like this isn’t just about staying dry, it’s about belonging. When students have nowhere to go, they feel disconnected from the community that is supposed to support them. A dedicated student space would grant us a space to rest, connect and resest which is everything a student needs to thrive.
It’s time to bring back student space, whether it’s reopening Dominican, the health center, setting up a temporary shelter or even repurposing part of the cafeteria. It’s evident that something needs to change.
We deserve better than muddy shoes and locked doors.
