Baruch’s five floors tend to be bustling with life. Students traveling from class to class, teachers conversing outside of their doorways and computer carts being pushed about throughout the hallways.
When on the school’s highest floor, the fifth one, some students take notice of the dark stairwell that leads above. It leaves them pondering; what in the world is up there?
“I don’t know exactly. I’d say it’s abandoned but I couldn’t be sure because no one can go up there. I don’t think it’s anything special,” said junior Maelan Collet.
While students are left imagining what’s being hidden, teachers are also curious.
“I think it’s an office space with people working in cubbies, and I think there’s a room where they keep all the snacks and drinks for the main office,” said math teacher Gloria Cao.
Simon Lu, one of Baruch’s newest educators and another math teacher, offers a different perspective.
“I think it’s a private hedge fund company that operates at night when no one else is at the building. And that’s how the school makes its money,” he said.
While the teachers and students can only guess what’s above Baruch, Assistant Principal Douglas Keijzer provided clarity regarding the contents of the sixth floor and above.
“All the floors above the fifth floor are commercial space. Some of the space is leased out to other businesses. Some are vacant,” he said. “The whole building is a commercial building and Baruch just leases out five floors.”
Thus, while speculation remains among the student body, the truth unveils a practical reality of commercial tenancy beyond the confines of the school building.
