EDITORIAL//Junior Senior War?

The Junior-Senior war is one of those timeless traditions that most can look back upon fondly as they recall their high school years. Typically seen as friendly competition, this year the war seemed to escalate to something else altogether. Previous years have been marked with their tense moments, and it would completely false to say they did not feature the always classic eggings and pranks. However, this year has been much more epic.

The “war” began this year with both classes hitting the ground running, so to speak. Many houses and cars were defiled by eggs. While students may have found this entertaining, parents and the El Segundo Police certainly did not. Punitive measures ranging from detentions to suspensions and citations were issued in an effort to combat the flurry of immature activity, but to no avail…the unconquerable spirit of some students would not be subjugated.

The pep rally on the day of homecoming was in itself a perfect example of the frenzy that took over the students. The seniors were given the “honor” of being seated in their own stands; perhaps this was simply to prevent a riot from breaking out, we do not know. The competing yells of "09!" and "10!" drowned out the beginning of announcements, and the disrespect students had for the assembly as a whole was summarized by the fact that shouts continued halfway through the Pledge of Allegiance. However, this may have been the result of the inadequate sound system. Usually the speakers would be powerful enough to penetrate the home stands but with the seniors separated off, the sound was compromised. It must be said, however, that the Senior class did redeem itself by joining the ESHS choir with its own rousing chorus of the national anthem.

One of the more interesting events of the war was the phenomenon regarding the flyers slipped in many lockers of juniors and seniors alike. A collage of some of these flyers is featured in the paper. However, while these may have been in good fun, one activity undertaken by the seniors was not looked upon particularly kindly by the administration. Immediately after the pep rally, students departing the field were greeted by the sight of twenty or so seniors holding a sheet upon which "09!" and a certain expletive directed at the junior class also decorated the signage. This immature act, which perhaps would have been moderately more acceptable if the expletive had been omitted, was a foolhardy act. Hopefully, such stupidity will be avoided in the future, and clashes will solely involve healthy, moderate competition that students, parents, the police, and the administration will be able to appreciate.

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