The Student Lounge

A place for and by the students

What the Students Want

The student lounge’s mission is to create an area on campus where all students feel welcome and can escape from the normal bustle, hustle and dreariness that reigns over the rest of the school. There are now so many students in our school that there are very few places where students can truly feel welcome and can relax. The lounge also allows us to find a place that does not come under the control which is imposed in other parts of the school. How do we know that this is what the students want? Because this is what they have been clamoring for, for years now, and this is what they have personally told senior Lounge activists.

What We Had

We used to have a whole large room dedicated to the students, 6 or 7 years ago. Due to the exponentially expanding student population, this then other leisure oriented areas of the school where rapidly eliminated, to the benefit of more classrooms. Most recently a group of students, dedicated and determined to cut through the red-tape to the core of the problem and fix it, occupied an unused area outside the MMC. This area was large enough and spacious enough to accommodate 20-25 students in relative comfort at its peak. What we, the Lounge activists, did was rehabilitate this space. We harmed to no one, taking away nothing from anyone, and giving hundred fold what this space offered to start off with. We used the materials available to create a closed off space, using boards and chairs, positioned to create a relaxed area. Of note is also the helpfulness and cooperation of the librarians. Came generous donations to the lounge in form of a kettle and a stereo and thus music and tea became unavoidable elements of the fledgling lounge. Arrived a carpet, bringing together this space that was still cold in appearance. The carpet gave this space a very nice finishing touch. How we were proud of our lounge. Our tireless efforts and commitment to create a space of peace and well being within the school finally truly paid off. Students started flowing in, giving this unused space its first breath of continuous activity since it was built, years ago. Thanks to our efforts the space was kept clean and ready… But then…

What Happened

It was Friday morning, the third day, that Mrs. Berrada arrived questioning our legitimacy and our right to exist in this (our) space. Mr. Chinal rapidly arrived on the scene in a state of obvious excitation and questioned more forcefully. Attempting as we could do defend the student’s space and effort, we eventually caved in under the threat of police (!) intervention. Accused of squatting we were given the very clear and imperious command to clear out or else. It appears that these two school authorities, whose offices are both found in the Main building, believed we were disrupting the entire school by our noisy and unruly existence. However we had noted no complaints from any of the users of the building or the MMC. We were also likened to dictatorial revolutionaries, vanguards prepared to take over for our own ends, disregarding those of the Students. We were accused, entirely falsely, of having taken over this space for our own selfish wants. These accusations were not true as all were welcome and indeed al grades enjoyed this space equally since its habilitation. We were however compelled to clear up our things in order to avoid any further trouble to the users of this space, who were being amalgamated to activists and against whom we feared the anger of the administration might turn upon. Thus the carpet was rolled up, the electronics stowed away, and the Lounge returned to its old, cold and silent self, occupied but by a handful of the more resilient students. However we remain confident that the Lounge can and will return to its former glory and surpass it…

Hopes and Plans

A small group of Student activists met with Mr. Binge and discussed the future of this space. We were requested to talk to the 12^th Graders Council, still considered as the elected representatives, and asked to submit a plan. Only then could the Lounge be approved. The more dedicated elements of the group vowed to bring back the lounge no matter what, risking anything for the students. A few refused point blank and negotiations with the Council. As it stands the Student Union, representative of the demands of student activists and the interests of the Lounge, is not supportive of the 12^th Graders Council who have shown nothing but disrespect towards our initiatives and actions, who were taken in the interests of the students, and who harmed nobody, on the contrary providing a long overdue service to the school. We are however prepared to inform the Council of our plans, which are as follow:

- To rehabilitate the Student Lounge as soon as possible

- To include the following within it

- A stereo (available)

- A kettle (available)

- A couch and other seating arrangements (Pledged and available)

- Music CDs, on the condition of their respectful use (Pledged and available)

- MP3 connection for the stereo (pledged and available)

- More boards, so that the space is closed up better (pledged and available

- A computer (pledged)

These are our plans. This is our history. We have come too far to be dismissed. We have achieved too much to be ignored.

the Student Union.