By libby kesil
Staff Writer
LIBBY KESIL Tarra Kalian, 18, and Kristina Knapp, 17, sign in another participant at the Mix It Up at Lunch Day.
RUMSON — The school cafeteria is usually a place where students can sit with friends, stay in their comfort zone, and let down their guard. That was not the case on Nov. 21 at Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School.
Student members of the high school’s Peer Education and Diversity groups participated in Mix It Up at Lunch Day in the school cafeteria.
The event was the first step in a year-round, nationwide exploration taking place in schools and online, according to Bob Henne, the public information officer at the school.
Dr. Suzanne Fico, student assistance counselor at the school, enlisted approximately 86 members of the combined Peer Education and Diversity groups to coordinate a program with a mission to find out what can happen if peer groups are separated and then "mixed up," according to Henne.
Prior to the event, Fico’s group members distributed survey forms to students with different questions to determine what influences where, and with whom, they choose to sit in the cafeteria. Once the data was collected, the groups developed a plan to have students sit with others they would not normally choose to socialize with.
The event took place during lunch periods four through seven.
Kristina Knapp, 17, one of the members of Fico’s groups, handed the color-coordinated numbered tickets randomly to students as they entered the cafeteria. The students in turn sat at the table specified. Each table had a colored balloon with a number corresponding to a ticket.
"We wanted to show how accepting we are and how well we extend to others," said Knapp.
A group member sat at each table to engage others in conversation and encourage them to fill out the questionnaires.
During period five, some tables were chatty while others were more subdued and students busied themselves filling out questionnaires.
According to Henne, there are normally about 200 students in period five.
Group member Lauren Steinhorn, 17, said, "Everyone seems to be getting along. They’re mixing it up."
Group member Guy Henderson, 17, said he thought the program was a good approach to separating students from their comfortable cliques, getting them to meet new people.
"It brings them together and breaks boundaries," said Henderson.
Britt Melewski, 17, sitting at a particularly talkative table, said he had never really talked to any of the students at his table, but they had already engaged in conversations on several subjects, including politics.
"I feel like I know all these people," he said with a wave of his hand.
Another group member, Pat Callinan, 16, gave the event a very favorable review.
"It’s a pretty awesome thing to do. I’ve sat in the same lunch seat for three years," said Callinan.
"It’s kind of a cool thing to mix it up," Callinan continued. "It’s difficult to make people open up, and this is an outstanding way to do it. A simple way. There’s not a lot of pressure to talk to others, but you get to know them."
"It’s a start," said Henne. "You never know. You might have some kids make friends. The kids seem to be going along with it."