With the annual dance known as Prom upcoming on April 21, some students have expressed their dissatisfaction with underclassmen attending. Prom is a school dance that is designed for juniors and seniors. Due to many upperclassmen having underclassmen friends or significant others, the freshman and sophomores still find a way to attend.
We published a survey on the Roar Instagram regarding student opinions on underclassmen at prom. 77% of Northview students that partook in the survey believe underclassmen should stay out of prom completely. 18% of students feel underclassmen should be able to attend only if they are invited by an upperclassmen. 5% feel that underclassmen should be able to attend without any limitations.
Lauren Flickinger is a senior who feels underclassmen should not be able to attend. Flickinger expresses that prom has always been and always should be only for the upperclassmen.
“[Underclassmen] will get their chance to go if they choose to. They already have Homecoming and Fling,” Flickingersaid. “[Underclassmen getting into prom] is inevitable. It happens at every single dance. I don’t want Prom to be attended by a bunch of underclassmen, it’s more of a rite of passage for juniors and seniors.”
Sophomore Skylar Denyes is a part of the 18% that feels there should be exceptions for the underclassmen who have relationships with upperclassmen whether it’s a significant other or a close friend.
“I think they should only be allowed if they are going with a date who is an upperclassman,” Denyes said. “If they can just freely go it takes away from the significance of it for the upperclassmen”
Flickinger believes problems could arise with all grade levels allowed to go.
“The more underclassmen that come, the bigger venue we are going to have to find, which would make prom tickets more expensive,” Flickinger said.
If tickets became more expensive it would turn away upperclassmen from attending because most people are not going to want to spend a lot of money on tickets especially if they have a date and are paying for two or more tickets.
I believe underclassmen should not be allowed to attend. It is a special event for juniors and seniors only. For the seniors it’s one of their last goodbyes to the school and for a bunch of underclassmen to be there takes away from the significance.
There is not much students can do to try to keep underclassmen away from prom even with the majority of upperclassmen disliking the idea of them attending. The administration could cut underclassmen out of Prom completely by not allowing them to attend no matter the circumstance, however this could cause problems as people have siblings, friends, and significant others they want to bring with them.
Prom will take place on Apr 21, 2023 8pm-11pm. Tickets will be $35 and will not be sold at the door.
