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Student to StudentWill Sundance affect learning in high school?

Sarah Moffitt Starting Jan. 18, our small town will go through its annual transformation. For two weeks it will become a bustling, overcrowded, colder and smaller version of Los Angeles, filled with celebrities, stargazers, and wannabe's. During Sundance

David McNaughton, the vice principal, also isn’t to worried about the extra complications Sundance may bring. "The only thing it will affect is that more kids may be tardy to first period due to parking." McNaughton also added that filmsters and students will be well segregated during school. "We will make sure the Sundance people don’t enter through the cafeteria and that kids don’t enter through the Eccles Center. It will be impossible for the Sundance people to cut over into the school hallways." Both McNaughton and Brooks agree that while Sundance is going on, students will be expected to attend class, even if Justin Timberlake is signing autographs outside.

Not all students are as confident that Sundance will have no effect on their learning. "I think that Sundance is very damaging to our learning," Carleigh Lake, a senior, said. "Every time you enter the parking lot a minimally-trained volunteer stops you. The tourists wander our school adding extra bodies to our already over-crowded halls. Not only does Sundance have an effect on our learning, but also on our small town." Most students agree about ramifications Sundance has on the parking situation, but for some, that is their only complaint. Ashley Pyne, a senior, said, "I don’t feel that Sundance is very distracting, we have to give up our parking passes and deal with traffic, but we still go to school and do the same things. It may be a pain but it is also fun."

While some seem to be more influenced by Sundance in regard to their learning, students are getting used to it. Teachers generally have a good attitude toward it and after all these years know what to expect. Those located in the ‘learning cottages,’ which get the most noise, are ready to do what they can to continue as normal. "The only time class gets noisy is when a movie is about to start and all the people are milling around outside talking on their cell phones. Besides that, you never even notice" said teacher Robert Arsht. "I have my classes make a game out of it. Whenever they are walking past the Eccles they all whip out their cell phones and pretend to talk to their agents, that way we fit in more."

Sundance may bring chaos but it also brings new opportunities and a chance to show off our town. A far as school goes, be sure to leave plenty of time for traffic jams and searching for a parking spot, and try to leave the tourists alone.


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