Remember when bags of carrots became the center of attention at CSArts? What became known as “Carrot Gate” began when students started throwing bags of carrots at one another during lunch. Several students walking by were hit, and the incident led to the cafeteria’s temporary closure, affecting students beyond those directly involved.
“I was just walking by when I got hit in the head with a bag of carrots,” Noah Staley said.
Although the incident happened some time ago, “Carrot Gate” remains a reminder of how students’ actions can affect the wider school community. Gomez, Leadership advisor and Creative Writing director, was not present when the incident occurred. However, he learned about it after noticing a large group of students gathered in the office to discuss what had happened.
“I’ve grown increasingly concerned about how students leave the lunch areas after lunch every day, and this felt like the extreme of that!” Gomez said.
While throwing bags of carrots was an unusual incident, the mess left behind after lunch is a more familiar concern. Food scraps and trash are frequently left in the cafeteria and around the red tables which creates additional work for facilities staff.
“Oftentimes, there’s half-eaten food left in random places that our facilities workers have to clean up,” Gomez said.
For Gomez and many other administrators, the issue goes beyond cleaning up after lunch. He hopes students will recognize that their actions affect not only themselves but also the people around them.
“As a community, I think it’s important to remember that we are part of something bigger than ourselves,” Gomez said.
“Carrot Gate” may have started with flying bags of carrots, but Gomez hopes students take away a broader lesson about respecting the people and spaces that make up their school community.
“What we do to others and to our spaces, we do to ourselves,” Gomez said.
The cafeteria had to be closed again on Thursday, October 8th, due to students leaving trash and food on the floor.
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Behind the Groove