Recently, there has been a movement to restrict the playing of games within the library, both tabletop and electronic.

Librarian Peggy Christensen said students playing games in the library has not always been a problem.

“As long as they weren’t bothering anyone else, I didn’t care,” Christensen said.

However, gaming students have become more disruptive. Disturbances have helped to drive the ban against gaming, as the library is intended to be a peaceful place for students.

“Students would turn off other students’ computers because they were beating them at a game,” Christensen said. “The library needs to be a quiet place for students who want to study.”

Sophomore Addison Alford used to play Magic: the Gathering, a trading card game, in the library, and now has to find other places to play.

“It sucks, but we have people that meet up other places,” Alford said. “We’re a little more spread out now.”

Although Christensen supports the removal of games from the library, she said she wants students to still be able to play games.

“I would like to see opportunities [for students] to recreate,” Christensen said.

There currently is not a room that has been designated as an area to engage in recreational activities. If there were one, Christensen said she would like it to be a place for students who have all of their work caught up to be able to game somewhere during morning intervention or lunch.

“I want there to be a place for kids, with all of their bases covered, to go and play whatever games they want,” Christensen said.

Alford agreed with Christensen’s idea.

“It would make it a lot easier for people to, like, play games and stuff,” Alford said. “I think that would be a good idea.”

The games played in the gaming room would have to be appropriate for school. On campus, students have played Cards Against Humanity, a fill in the blanks style card game, which, according to Christensen is not appropriate for school.

“I think the game [Cards Against Humanity] deals with some very adult humor,” Christensen said.

A previous player, Alford said he understands why Christensen dislikes the game.

“I do not blame her for having an issue with that game,” Alford said. “It’s like Apples to Apples, but worse.”

Alford said the gaming room would not have to be large or expensive for tabletop games to be played.

“[We just need] table and chairs and a room,” Alford said.

The idea of the game room is not only to help those who wish to study. Christensen said there are benefits to playing games with other students.

“We should at least provide an opportunity to [allow students to] socially interact,” Christensen said. “[Students] have an opportunity to mingle across the grades, where in most classes that’s not available.”