Lunch Wars: Main Vs. Vista – Is it fair?

Many students face the consequences of being late after lunch. Whether it be revoking lunch privileges or detention, students must manage their lunch time wisely. But, is it fair for students on the Vista campus to get lunch and make it back on time? 

By: Liah Rodriguez

Redwood High School is divided into two campuses: Main and Sierra Vista. While both campuses share similar academic goals, students at each location experience very different challenges during lunch. With the 2024-2025 school year bringing a new rule that prohibits students from leaving campus under the bridge, Vista students are feeling the impact of restricted access to food options.

Lunch is scheduled from 1:03PM to 1:42PM on late-start Mondays, and 12:50 PM to 1:26 PM from Tuesday through Friday. For students on the Main campus, getting food is relatively easy and quick. Main students can leave campus, head to nearby food spots, and return with plenty of time to spare.

On the other hand, Vista students are now facing a tougher situation. While they still have the option to leave campus, the time it takes to get food, coupled with the long walk back, is leaving many scrambling to return on time.

Gurmun Bains, ’27, a student at Vista during fourth period, expressed the challenge. “I wanna say, like, eight minutes, but it depends on the traffic; sometimes I don’t get over until like one,” he said. His campus is located farther from popular food options, making the walk longer and more stressful.

“I think they should let students get off campus earlier,” he added, emphasizing the need for more time to get lunch without being late to class.

The issue isn’t just the walk, it’s the pressure of timing. Draven Loyd, ‘27, another Vista student during fourth period, explained his struggle: “It takes me about ten minutes and I have to kind of rush back to class,” said Loyd.

For Loyd, the walking time means he’s often late, a problem that could be eased with earlier access or other solutions. “Letting Vista students have an early exit, or some other way to speed up the process,” he suggested, underscoring how hard it is to juggle both lunch and class time.

Michelle Palma, ‘27, highlighted how the system creates more problems as lunch progresses. “Depending on where I’m going, if I’m just staying on campus, the walk’s like five minutes from Vista,” said Palma.

However, the situation changes once she arrives at lunch spots. “By the time I make it from Vista, the gates are full of kids already, and I have to wait in a long line,” Palma said.

Palma understands the reasoning behind the school’s rule but still feels the campus divide is a disadvantage for Vista students. “I think it kind of sucks for us, cause our lunch is already so short, and we’re walking farther,” she concluded.

Gabrielle Caro, ‘27, another student who has a Vista class fourth period, shared a similar sentiment: “It takes me about nine minutes,” said Caro.

Caro added that the time difference is especially noticeable when Main students get to popular spots faster. “Main students can just get to the places faster. On Vista, you have to pass Main to get there, which takes even more time,” Caro said, making it clear that the added distance and delay make lunch feel even shorter for Vista students.

On the other side of the debate, William Cifuentez, a campus supervisor, offered a more neutral perspective. “I mean, they all have lunch, they can all get lunch at the end of the day,” he said when asked about the fairness of the current system. “They just have to walk a little further for it, you know? But it’s all good.” Cifuentez’s view focuses on the logistical side, noting that both campuses ultimately get the same lunch break, just with different distances to cover.

However, his response doesn’t fully address the core issue many students face. Vista students not only have to walk farther, but they also face the stress of time limits and long wait times. For them, the lunch break doesn’t feel as fair or as accessible as it might for Main students.

The question remains: is it fair for Vista students to be at a disadvantage in terms of lunch access? Many students believe the current system isn’t equitable, with those on the Main campus able to get to lunch and return to class without much trouble.

Vista students, on the other hand, feel the pressure of walking farther, waiting in lines, and rushing back to class.

Students from both campuses are hopeful that the administration will find a way to create a fairer system, one that gives everyone the same opportunity to enjoy their lunch without sacrificing class time.

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