By DENISE UNGER

On April 28 students and members of the administration, including Mr. Rider, Mr. Burk, deans, and others, talked about the policies the students wanted changed. The most talked about issue was the one of open Campus. A lot of opinions were voiced both for and against Open Campus.

We had a trial period for two weeks, of our lunches outside, in a restricted area. We are beginning to have more freedom ‑ maybe on our way to a complete Open Campus. There are still a lot of flaws that will have to be worked out. Parents and other citizens of Des Plaines will have their opinions on the matter. An Open Campus policy is being discussed by 24 people, including parents, students, teachers and administrators, from each of the four Maine schools. It is their intention to review the good and bad points of the Open Campus situation and make a decision to present to Dr. Short, superintendent of schools.

As I sat and listened to some of the students talking about Open Campus, I got the impression that a lot of students are blaming people such as Mr. Rider and Mr. Burk for our not having Open Campus. I think that every student should realize that it is not the schools which make the decision whether to have Open Campus or not; it is the Board of Education who makes such decisions. I think students should stop blaming the wrong people.

Open Campus will mean a lot of hardships to work out, but it will also have good points to it. It will mean that all students will have to take on more responsibility for themselves. No more will we be "babysat." It will be our responsibility to come to classes and get the grades we want.

Another topic that was discussed was smoking. Because of a fire ordinance, the only place, on campus or in school, smoking is allowed in is the teachers' lounge. The washrooms, parking lot, and the football field are part of the "no smoking" area.

Again, people seem to be blaming our school administrators for this rule. It is, however, the authority of the Board of Education to make the rule of "no smoking."

There was talk of having a smoking area outside. The points against the idea were cigarette butts littered on the ground, at times it would be too cold to go outside (hence the washrooms would be used), and the area would be restricted, therefore it may not be convenient for people to go there between classes (again the washrooms). The ideas for a smoking area include: the washrooms wouldn't be smokefilled, people would not be in trouble for smoking on school grounds, and people would again have to learn to accept responsibility.

A Smoking Area and Open Campus are now being discussed. I probably will not see the institution of these reforms during my time at Maine, but it is for the students just starting and those that are coming for whom we are working. I believe that students should voice their opinions, get interested so we can have these freedoms, and most of all, stop blaming the wrong people for the things we don't have.