Evergreen the
october 8, 2014
Everything Greenhill
volume 50, issue 1
the wa y
But that’s
we’ve
always
done it.
Should we break up with tradition?
T
oday has been a very productive Saturday. I’ve finished all my homework. It’s 8 p.m., and the longest I’ve gone without checking Facebook is about seven minutes. Finally, at 11 p.m., the posts begin. My newsfeed is flooded with pictures of my friends before, during, and after the Homecoming dance. I’m not in any of them. This year, I didn’t go. This year, I wasn’t asked. Excluded by social norms, this student is the voice that Jack Oros, Dean of Students, is trying to speak up for. As Dean, he said he believes certain Homecoming traditions inhibit the progressive, inclusive environment that is Greenhill. He decided to devise and execute changes this year, and announced the changes during the individual Upper School class meetings. 10 a.m.: class meeting’s about to start; Mr. Oros approaches the front of the Lecture Hall and a cloud of suspense falls over the room. He explains the new decisions surrounding Homecoming and the entire student body reacts. “There was a lot of tension. A lot of people were not happy,” said senior Eric Yu of the atmosphere at the senior class meeting. “There were arguments and a little bit of a debate between two sides. Also, there was almost something like disbelief, like, ‘Why is he allowed to do that?’” Many students don’t want to let go of traditions they are used to, ones they were waiting to be a part of. But there is another side to the story. “If one girl doesn’t come to school or doesn’t come to the game because she doesn’t have a mum, that’s enough for me to say to change this,” Mr. Oros said.
“
If Greenhill has the opportunity to make more people feel included, then [the school] should take it.”
In an effort to include all students, Mr. Oros made changes regarding the 2014-2015 Homecoming and Sadie Hawkins dances. This year, Homecoming and Sadie’s are no longer “boys ask girls” and “girls ask boys” dances, respectively. Students can ask whomever, for whichever dance they prefer. Additionally, mums and garters will only bear one name, that of the person wearing them. Traditionally, dates would exchange mums and garters with both of
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Serving Greenhill since 1966
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their names on them. Finally, students are no longer allowed to have public “asks,” a practice reserved for seniors. Traditionally, groups of seniors would ask each other to the dance in front of a crowd of their peers. Elaborate “asks” might take weeks of planning. Texan high-school girls have been wearing mums for almost a century, and Greenhill has had the tradition for at least 30 years. According to Mr. Oros, over the past couple of years, he has seen many students’ feelings hurt over not being asked to Homecoming. Though there are no exact figures, the result is a tangible absence of some students from school on friday’s Homecoming activities, and the dance the next day. “[Greenhill] always looks at things progressively. We look at things not like everywhere else does,” Mr. Oros said, “And then when it comes to Homecoming, we revert to the 1950s. To some, the mum says ‘I have a date for the dance,’ and those without one are those without a date.” Mr. Oros said he wants to create an environment where everyone can wear a mum without fear of ridicule. “I think it’s a step in the right direction,” said junior Mansi Kumar. “Because [at] Greenhill we emphasize this very inclusive environment. It’s kind of [a] microcosm of acceptance.” Other students expressed similar views in regards to the changes. “I think [the change] is kind of nice,” said sophomore Julia Halm. “It’s more laid back and accepting. It’s the Greenhill thing to do.” However, some students feel that those who don’t have dates have no reason to feel excluded, because of Greenhill’s atmosphere. “Even if you don’t have a date, you’re still comfortable and people don’t make fun of you,” said sophomore Maddie Cook. “I saw last year people [bought] mums or garters with just their name, so I never really saw [people feeling left out] as a problem.” “Everyone that I’ve seen has had great spirits regardless,” said sophomore Jake Hershman. Other students feel that whether or not an individual student gets asked should not affect the rest of the community. “If someone doesn’t get asked, they choose how to react to that,” said junior Andrea Mora. “Say I didn’t get asked, I’m not going to make everyone else feel sorry for me because I didn’t
get asked. I can go by myself, buy my own mum and put my own name on it. But I don’t think that just because several girls feel excluded all of the other students have to be brought down with them,” Andrea said. Though the changes were made to prevent exclusion, the very process by which the changes were made was not open to the entire student body; only Student Council was made aware of the upcoming changes. Students are typically not consulted on these types of decisions. “I didn’t expect Student Council or the students to necessarily agree with the decision,” Mr. Oros said. “I just hope they understand my reasoning. Part of my role as Dean is to help develop character, compassion and understanding.” Members of Student Council i f also said they felt that it was in Mr. Oros’s domain to decide. “It’s [Mr. Oros’] decision, it’s the administration’s decision, [but Student Council] also agreed with it and supported it,” said senior Alex Raphael, Upper School Student Body President. “We also recognized that people would be upset, but there’s always difficulty accepting changes whenever traditions are swept away.” But there are members of the Greenhill community who said they feel the delivery of the change could have been different. “I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one that has an opinion on this,” Andrea said. “The dance and the Homecoming night [are] for us.” Karen Bradberry, Director of Equity & Inclusion, also said she wished that the opinions of the student body had been included in the decision-making process. “My preference would have been a Survey Monkey or an open forum, especially if it’s a decision that affects the community,” she said. This is not the first time Homecoming traditions have been changed. In the ‘70s, Homecoming court was nominated by the football team, whereas today, the entire senior class makes nominations. Over time, the changes simply become the new norm. “The essence of Homecoming remains intact; if Greenhill has the opportunity to make more people feel included, then [the school] should take it,” Alex said. story by Josh Rudner and Christina Zhu graphic by Sera Tuz
Feat. Arts Sports From Bulgaria to Dallas. p. 7
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The Secret of Futsal. p. 17
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