The students and staff of our school are constantly at the mercy of the poor design of the atrium staircase. Students are frequently rushing to their classes after being stuck on the staircase. The crowding between floors causes even more frustration and shoving amongst students. Although most at our school are aware of the problems erupting from the stairs, students and staff continue to use them on a daily basis. Today, I set out to find the truth about why so many still use the atrium stairs, and the science behind it.

After viewing the stairs during passing periods, I noted where each student’s final destination was and their thoughts on the atrium staircase. Heading to her classroom in the green pod, junior Ava Barnes voices her opinions.

“It depends where you are coming from, but most of the time I have to use the atrium stairs,” Barnes said.

Some students are unfortunately unaware of the presence of other forms of staircases, like the staircase up from the main entrance.

“I think it’s really sad that they don’t know they exist, and I think it’s time for them to discover new stairs,” senior Lauren Edwards said.

Some students have complaints not about the crowding, but of the physical structure of the stairs and the discomfort it causes.

“I don’t like using the atrium stairs because the steps are too short,” junior Abby Putnam said.

After much research and collection of data, I have narrowed down the cause of the disruption of the atrium stairs. Only 18% of the school is easily accessible using the staircases by the exit to the tennis courts, and a mere 12% of the school is best accessible using the main entrance stairs. This means around 71% of the schools most popular and needed areas are most easily accessible by using the atrium stairs. This explains the problem of overcrowding because most of our school’s students are more likely to go on the atrium stairs to get to their destination.

The students of our school are tired of the condition of the atrium stairs, and something needs to be done. This school needs another set of stairs to balance the transportation of people and create a peaceful space for students to get to classes.