Pro

Critics of the senior blackout on class color day are quick to point out how played out the whole blackout idea is. But tradition plays a strong role in many high school activities in modern day life. It is the reason we all wear those funny hats at graduation, the reason we all all missed school a few weeks ago, and the reason we allow a bunch of scantily clad students to rush the field at homecoming. Part of the fun of being a senior is being able to do new things, like the new responsibilities that come with age.

Many of us watched from afar for the last three years while the previous senior classes had their fun, and now it is our time to shine. And this year we did something that had never been done before: the first ever WY “darty”, featuring live music in the staff parking lot. This was a great change of pace from past blackout activities, which have ranged from dangerous (“let all jump on the bridge”), to downright destructive, like the infamous yearbook fiasco that occurred with the class of ‘13. As long as the senior class continues to be original and innovative with their senior activities, I see no reason to change tradition.

Con

The senior blackout is one thing many students look forward to as underclassmen. It has also become increasingly played out and pointless over the years. Want to use it as an opportunity for a school prank? We’ve already crossed (and broken) that bridge. Want to use it to “make a statement” about how special your senior class is? Because the best way to set yourself apart from previous senior classes is not to do exactly what the classes before you did. Plus, the yearly threat of another bridge destruction shuts down the bridge for class color day, which is a huge inconvenience.

I’m not saying don’t have fun, or don’t break rules and disrupt the school environment. In fact, quite the opposite. Think back to last year’s blackout ; did they really accomplish anything by parading around the school in their all black, chanting ONE-FOUR? No, it was lame. And everyone knew it. A good blackout is something that has never been done before, like the class of ‘13, who shut down traffic on Jackson below the Arts Bridge. It was funny, original, and caused some relatively safe hysteria.

This year’s blackout was cool and innovative, but a school sanctioned “darty”, supervised by teachers, is not what the blackout is supposed to be. It’s supposed to be a time for the seniors to go wild, without the permission of the administration. Maybe instead of having the blackout during class color day, we should have it on a separate day, or do something else throughout the school year that would keep the administration on it’s toes. Regardless, the current incarnation of the blackout is tired, worn out concept, and could use some innovation one way or another. How to switch it up? I guess that’s up to the class of ‘16.