The media center is so noisy and crowded at lunchtime that it has basically become a second cafeteria without the food. Since so many students go to the media center to catch up on homework without cafeteria distractions, there should be one section of work tables dedicated to students who want to work quietly by themselves during fifth and sixth period.

In the past, quiet zones have been successful. Students requested a quiet zone a few years ago, and media specialist Ginny Trulio successfully maintained it for one school year. Trulio should re-establish the quiet area, ideally at the far end of the media center near the non-fiction books.

The media center has been especially loud this year, junior Jackie Barnes said. Students like Barnes and junior Lauren McConnell come to the media center every day during lunch to do homework, much of which is often due later that day. When they’re already stressed and under pressure to finish an assignment, the noise level only makes the work more difficult, they said.

Media assistants shouldn’t constantly have to remind students to be quiet, and the school doesn’t have the money to hire any more staff. Trulio says she doesn’t want to have to police students. The solution: create a quiet area where only quiet students will go. A designated quiet area wouldn’t require any money or effort — simply a sign to separate the quiet area from the main work area — and would allow students to self-regulate themselves simply by sitting in the proper part of the media center.

Establishing a quiet study area would be a simple, sufficient way to give many students a place to get work done without distractions.