Contrary to rumors circulating around campus, the Paly administration has no intention of ending the freshman social studies reenactment program, according to Principal Jacqueline McEvoy.

“I do not know how the rumor started,” McEvoy said. “There is no way I have ever said ‘no more reenactments.'”

After McEvoy saw the “Black Death” Reenactment, she organized a meeting on Thursday, Nov. 1 with social studies instructional supervisor Eric Bloom and ninth grade World History teacher Mike McGovern, who has been running the reenactment program for the past 17 years. McEvoy said she “cannot talk about the meeting; it’s confidential,” however, an issue regarding the content of the reenactment, specifically the ending scene of “Black Death,” was raised during the meeting, according to McGovern.

Although McEvoy commented that the only problem she had with the reenactments was one about the wellbeing of the students involved, McGovern felt otherwise. “The issue was not just about safety,” McGovern said in a phone interview with The Paly Voice. “It was also about the content of the reenactment.”

In the ending scene of Black Death, the Grim Reaper says, “I would like you to sample my newest product line,” and directs the audience upstairs to a party scene, which is staged by upperclassmen. On the stage, which is decorated with various alcohol bottles brought by Paly parents, victims of drunk driving, drugs, and unprotected sex are viewed to the students, and the Grim Reaper proudly says, “Look what happened to them,” bragging about his success.

The basic idea of the ending scene, including the specific words of the Grim Reaper, was recommended by Peter Toole, who used to work at Paly as a drug counselor during the late 80s. Toole believed the demonstration of selling death as a product is a powerful way to communicate with the audience, especially in the 80s when drug use was a serious issue, according to McGovern.

The ending was intended to draw a parallel between the bubonic plague and current sources of death, however, McEvoy did not see any historic relevancy, McGovern said.

Reenactments have been successfully managed and well-received for 17 years, according to McGovern. Last year, when State Superintendent Jack O’Connell visited Paly, not only was he impressed by the Black Death stage, but also found the ending to be “terrific,” McGovern said.

“For the past 17 years, superintendents, principals, assistant principals, staff, parents, and students saw everything,” McGovern said. “A few parents had made a comment that the final scene is a bit trite, but not one adult ever raised an issue.”

Paly students expressed their discontent over what they perceived was the issue.

“She is overstepping her bounds by refusing to adapt to Paly traditions,” junior Nadav Shiffman said. “She needs to realize that the school need not conform to her, but rather the other way around.”

“She has no idea who she’s dealing with,” said sophomore Julian Pitt, who participated in all of the reenactments last year.

McGovern’s top priority is to ensure that the reenactment program continues to benefit the Paly community, as Paly students concur.

“Let’s just leave it at that,” McGovern said.