With Spirit Week in full swing for Palo Alto High School, old class feuds are being awoken, most of which are centered around the problem of a rigged judging system (i.e. the seniors always win).
For every year there has been a week of spirit, there has been a winner, and that winner always happens to be the seniors (with the exception of seniors purposely throwing Spirit Week). Whether seniors always win because they have the most spirit, or more sinister forces are at work, Paly will never know for sure.
“This year ASB [Associated Student Body] will tally up the points in a more transparent way so that the system can’t be rigged,” Junior Class President Audrey DeBruine said.
I’m glad that there’s still such optimism in the world, but after years of seniors racking up the big wins, I’m doubtful. It sounds like this is just a more outright way of presenting a rigged system. Nothing short of the creation of a judicial body of ASB, with judges to serve for life, will keep this week clean.
Since Spirit Week began, Paly has bestowed upon itself with a vicious cycle in which no class but the seniors can win, regardless of spirit. But as the most refined products of Paly’s rigorous education, seniors earn their right to a win Spirit Week after three years of consecutive losses. Every class deserves some recognition for four weeks of dressing up based off of ludicrous themes.
So, in my opinion, Spirit Week should go to the seniors, regardless of how much their theme stinks this year.