By Stephanie Chiao
Copy Editor

Although the changes in the locker policy were not initially accepted by students, upon further examination, it is obvious that the redistribution of the school’s 706 lockers has more advantages than disadvantages.
The redistribution took the prized middle hallway lockers from the upperclassmen and gave them to freshmen, leaving the lockers in the outskirts of the campus for the rest of the students.
Complaints against the changes were fiercest from the upperclassmen, who expected seniority to give them the middle hallway lockers, while the freshmen suffered the last pickings in the 600 and 700 lockers.
“Seniors, then freshmen,” senior Melissa Hua said.
However, lockers should not be distributed based upon seniority. They should be given out based on their necessity, and who needs them more than freshmen trying to survive in a new environment?
“Since the freshmen are new to the school and most seniors have access to cars which can store their things, lockers should be given to the freshmen,” freshman Jamil Poonja said.
The freshmen took 447 lockers, leaving 259 for 1,185 non-freshmen. Though the immediate response to these numbers may not be positive, after further assessment, it is clear that there are enough lockers for those that want one.
If all the remaining 259 lockers are shared, 518 more people are equipped with lockers, leaving 667 people without one. With 238 parking permits issued to the seniors and juniors, 429 people are left without a locker or a locker substitute.
Out of the remaining people, there are those that do not even want a locker. Therefore, the demand for lockers is not as large as it seems.
“I don’t really need one. I only have to bring my math book everyday. The rest of my teachers don’t really care,” junior Erick Carranza said.
The 259 lockers were given out through a lottery system, which seemed unfair because not everyone would be guaranteed a locker. However, everyone that wanted a locker received one with 78 vacant lockers all over campus to spare. One hundred fifty-six more people could receive a locker if they wanted. Also, 250 more lockers will be installed around January and February, enough for 500 more people to share.
It is understandable that the upperclassmen are upset at this removal of an upperclassmen privilege, but the new policy is better for the school as a whole. It prevents people from having both a locker and a parking space, thereby diminishing the number of students with neither.
Mountain View High School agrees with this policy and only gives lockers to freshmen. The non-freshmen here are luckier than those at their neighboring school. This change has been suggested for several years, so it is indeed a well-thought out plan. Clearly, the administration is doing its best to provide for the students.