(UPDATED) Editorial: Should Attending School Events be Obligatory?

(A message from the author: The following article might be interpreted to have negative intentions towards the student group, Pulse, as I sincerely apologize to all readers (especially those of the Pulse group) for my critical tone. However, I do not have any personal prejudice towards any member of the group or the group itself, as they have dedicated their passions of creativity and hours of time to organize the events we love. The issues mentioned are not of my beliefs, but rather the words and experiences of other students, as they are brought up as examples to explain why students are becoming disinterested with school events (and according to Mr. Tragert, will not be a concern in the future). We must remember that the Beacon is the voice of all students, and shall stand as a platform for any individual to share their beliefs. Our staff has and will continue to take bold risks in order to allow each and every individual of our community to have a voice. Once again, I am sorry towards any individuals who have been offended by the information of the article, as it was not intended at all to create negative views towards AISG’s student-led groups. Instead, we should work as one to make the AISG community better by communicating more thoroughly. The Beacon intends to not only inform the school community but also to tackle certain existing issues with its readers. In the future, The Beacon, and I myself included, will be more caution to prevent any misunderstandings between the author and the readers by communicating about potentially sensitive topics beforehand. Thank you for your forgiveness, and please don’t forget to express your ideas on the article’s topic by commenting below.)

---

“We’re not going to have prom if you don’t go to Pulse events!”

It must be the millionth time you have heard that sentence, especially if you are a senior. You probably raised an eyebrow the first time you heard it, with the words “not” and “have prom” catching your attention. It has been an effective promotional and marketing method for the school-organized event planning group, Pulse. Unfortunately, caught in the midst of AISG’s school spirit-lacking atmosphere, Pulse was unable to meet its demand of minimum sales for this year’s winter dance. They were left with no choice but to cancel the annual event.

At this stage of the year, the most anticipated school event, prom, may be at stake—that is, if Pulse keeps its promise. “Will we have a prom or not this year?” “Will Pulse still be in charge of prom in the near future?” Various questions have been raised. More importantly, we should be reflecting on our own school spirit, and asking ourselves whether we are sufficiently supporting and attending student-organized activities.

The marketing tactics Pulse has delivered may be considered peer pressure, or even described as interrogation, as members have been forcefully questioning students for their reasons for non-participation (which may have lead to greater disinterest in participation). Nonetheless, besides the ethical debate behind Pulse’s methods for convincing students to participate in events, Pulse undeniably needs more students to take part in order to host more events in the future.

Students have given the answers that “Pulse events are boring”, “It’s not worth the money”, or that “None of my friends are going.” It is hard to deny that it is their money to spend, or that they have the right to think that events are boring. However, in order to provide a smoother high school experience for all, the dull and individualistic student atmosphere must be remedied. This does not mean students should be obligated to attend events, especially those with a price tag, because it is their own decision, but rather, they should learn to have a sense of responsibility to support other students and love the school community.

If you believe that AISG is hopeless in igniting school spirit, just look at the attendance of events such as the Talent Show and Open Mic Night. Although students should not be forced to pull bills out of their pockets, they should have the minimum requirement to help improve school events with the organizers through surveys, while the organizers should take advice from participating students. It is a fair trade between students and the organizers, which will ultimately strengthen our school spirit and bonds with each other.

Hopefully, the next sports game will have more than just two parents in the bleachers.