The DoorDash Dilemma

Students receiving food deliveries triggers admin concerns over safety

Staff Writer

Along with the return to in-person instruction in 2021 after the COVID-19 pandemic, students at American were permitted to order food for delivery to the campus during lunch time. But almost three years after the fact, students, campus supervisors, and administrators alike have encountered several issues with the Doordash and UberEats orders.

American High adopted a closed campus policy after what were believed to be gang-related incidents that had led to the injuries of multiple students between 1994 and 1995. But the rest of the district’s high schools have continued to allow their students to leave campus during lunch, stirring up conversation surrounding American’s unique policies.

The school’s acceptance of DoorDash and UberEats orders has been greatly convenient for students, offering the ability to order food from their favorite restaurants while remaining on campus in accordance with school rules.

“I Doordash around two times a week. Doordash lets me get food from places that have healthier options and align with my meal prep plans better than what school lunch provides me with,” AJ Torrado (12) said.

But with the influx of drivers entering campus during school hours and students losing track of their food, questions surrounding the safety and continuation of the policy have arisen — questions that may frame an open campus policy in a better light.

Campus supervisor Ms. Teixeira expressed concerns over having unidentified people on campus. “Doordashers have a job to do, but what they don’t realize is that this is a high school. They park their cars in the staff parking lot and walk all throughout campus looking for whoever ordered the food.”

From an administrator perspective, Mr. Peterson agreed that safety has been a major concern, but also noted that students take a risk when ordering food. “Some students leave class to pick up food because it arrives too early and then they get in trouble. Other times, if the drivers drop off the food in the wrong location, even if it’s not the students’ fault, they can still face discipline.”

On the other hand, students like Daisy Rodriguez (11) appreciate being able to order food, but have dealt with their own issues in receiving their meals. “One time I got my food stolen by some students, which was pretty recently, too. I’ve also gotten in trouble because Uber dropped it off at the office instead of the back parking lot,” she said.

But even with the liabilities in mind, students like Rodriguez are ultimately still willing to take the risk. “It’s worth it because I get to eat what I want to eat for that day.”

With the many nuances that accompany allowing students to order food for delivery, a return to an open campus policy has become a perennial topic of discussion within students as well as campus supervisors.

“I’m for it,” said Ms. Teixeira. “I’m for juniors and seniors being able to leave and pick up their food and come right back during lunch, because it would reduce a lot of the traffic here at the school and there’s just too many strange people on campus.”

Rodriguez agreed, adding that open campus lunches would reduce admin’s frustrations. “I feel like it would be a lot better and easier that way. We wouldn’t be worried during class about ordering food and having it delivered on time, and we’d be way more focused during class.”

Mr. Peterson, on the other hand, remains skeptical. “I don’t know about that one, I don’t know.”