It is the middle of the school day, the cafeteria options are unappealing, a car is available, and McDonald’s is five minutes away. For many students, the temptation to leave campus during lunch feels harmless—even deserved. But at WEGO, that option does not exist, and for good reason.

Although off-campus lunch may seem appealing, it does not make sense for West Chicago Community High School to reinstate it given concerns about safety, time, and accountability.

Off-campus lunch was eliminated in 1999, around the same time schools across the country began reevaluating safety procedures following the Columbine High School massacre. David Pater, Executive Director of Operations and Safety, explained that even beyond large-scale events, everyday risks make off-campus lunch difficult to justify.

“Even going out on a slippery, snowy day… you risk getting somebody getting hurt or something like that,” Pater said. “So it’s better that once you get here, the school is accountable for all those kids here, and we’re accountable for you the minute you come and also the minute you go.”

That responsibility is not minor. Whether a student lives two blocks away or 15 minutes away, the school is still accountable during the entire school day. Allowing students to leave campus introduces unnecessary risk—not only in terms of safety, but also liability.

Time is another major barrier. With lunch periods lasting roughly 20–25 minutes, even a quick trip off campus is unrealistic. As Pater noted, students who live farther away would “struggle to go home and come back on time,” likely increasing tardiness.

Ironically, some students already test these limits. The reporters of this piece admit to leaving campus during blended classes, den time, or lunch periods to get food from places like Dunkin’ or even traveling to Lombard. In doing so, they risk missing class, returning late, and leaving school without staff knowing their whereabouts.

Rather than proving that off-campus lunch should be allowed, this behavior highlights why it is not feasible. Even without permission, students struggle to manage the time and responsibility required. Expanding that freedom would likely increase those issues.

Still, some students argue that off-campus lunch would provide more options.

“I think we should bring that back… it would give a lot more options to students,” senior Alina Baranska said.

Others point to the short lunch period itself as the real issue.

“A lot of kids have to wait in line… so it’s not enough time,” senior Tristan McWilliams said.

These concerns are valid, but they do not require off-campus lunch as a solution. Adjusting lunch length or improving food options would address these issues without introducing additional risks.

Even supporters acknowledge that success would depend on student responsibility.

“I think if students are responsible with it… I don’t see why that’s a problem,” English teacher Merrick Ramza said.

But that assumption is exactly the challenge. Policies cannot be built on ideal behavior – they must account for realistic behavior. As it stands, the current structure of WEGO does not support off-campus lunch in a way that ensures safety, punctuality, and accountability for all students.

Ultimately, while off-campus lunch may sound appealing in theory, it does not align with the logistical and safety realities of the school. Instead of expanding freedom in ways that create risk, WEGO should focus on improving what already exists within its walls.