From an outsider’s perspective

Posted by eallen on May 25, 2012 in Telegram Past News

I wasn’t on the bus, I was there. I saw the devastation, and I overheard the decisions being made. Thirty-five students forced to sit on a curb, in formal attire, outside of their prom. A number of them who had in fact participated in the planning and decorating of prom, we’re forced to remain outside and even admit people into prom. These students had worked for months to plan prom and in return were denied their privilege of attending it. Seems unfair. All this over a bottle which may or may not have obtained alcohol. A contract broken, a night ruined, and consequences to come.

The contract created specifically for dances claimed that if a student was suspected of being intoxicated they were to be breathalyzed. The students requested they be breathalyzed and were denied numerous times. A contract each student and his/her parents were required to sign that was written and signed by administration was broken. The unfairness of the situation brings our community together. The community as a whole is supporting and standing up for what is believed to be the right thing. Punishing those undeserving of punishment is something that won’t go over well in a small town. The silver lining of the situation is the sense of community that is being renewed as well as the display of leadership many students have shown throughout the course of this past school week.

A night ruined would be a great understatement. The amount of money these thirty-five students invested for this event (attire, prom bids, party bus payment, etc.) is only a small price to pay in comparison to the fact that they were wrongly punished and forced to miss their prom. The time spent looking forward to prom, preparing for prom, and the anticipation was all for nothing as these students were forced to remain outside the doors of their prom. This occurrence became a big story from a little town, and not out of disrespect but out of the desire to have a sense of closure, and to prevent something like this from happening in the future. “The Thirty-Five” are respectful students who wish to make peace with the situation.

Decisions have consequences. If as a student body we are unfairly punished, disrespected and mistrusted how can we be expected to be respectful and trusting of those above us? One cannot demand respect when refusing to give it. Innocent students were punished and that is unfair. The consequences that will proceed that decision, though, will be fair and will hopefully prevent this sort of occurrence from happening again.

I may not have been directly affected, I was not one of those forced to remain outside of prom, but I am a part of this school and this community. I hope to see a closer community, and some better leadership due to this mishap. I saw the tears and the frustration. Everything happens for a reason, and hopefully brighter outcomes are soon to be seen.