Rally lights stay on

This year’s homecoming rally was the first to implement rule changes in response to behavioral issues at the April 2015 rally, received both praise and criticism as students compared it to rallies of the past.

Many students enjoyed themselves at the Oct. 9 event, including sophomore Olivia Chang, who is a new student to Oak Park.

“My first rally at school was definitely an incredible experience. Seeing so much school spirit and class spirit, as well as our dance and cheer teams perform, was super exciting,” Chang said. “I really did have a good time.”

Senior Sarah Koep said she was similarly pleased with the rally.

“The senior class’s spirit was off the charts,” Koep said. “[The band’s] rendition of ‘Uptown Funk’ really got everyone hyped up.”

The lights stayed on during this homecoming rally.

During the April 2015 rally, lights were turned off and glow sticks were handed out to students. The performances included glow-in-the-dark dancing and events, and ended with a rap battle between Assistant Principal Bryan Martin and a senior. Some students arrived to the rally intoxicated, while others threw various items at the performers and formed a mosh pit around the rap battle between Martin and two seniors.

After that rally, Martin confirmed that the lights would need to stay on and that rap battles would no longer take place.

“We can’t see the kids and we’ve had things thrown onto the floor. It was unsafe,” Assistant Principal Jason Meskis said.

The changes elicited disapproval from some students. Junior Grace Orriss said that “having the lights on really lessened the atmosphere of the rally,” and sophomore Anika Krishnan said that the homecoming rally was a bit too controlled.

“[Last year’s rallies] allowed for each class to loosen up, and that made the rallies more fun,” Krishnan said.

Because this year’s homecoming rally was comparatively tame, Meskis said he believed that “overall, [keeping the lights on] was very effective.”

Despite criticisms, ASB remains confident that upcoming rallies will be as entertaining as they were last year.

“Even though we can’t turn off the lights, we’re still trying to make the rallies fun and boost school spirit,” junior ASB member Augustina Ullman said.

Junior Serene Raslan, also an ASB member, said she agreed.

“Even though we couldn’t have the lights on, we’ve been trying to step up other things, like the sound and the games,” Raslan said.

Other students remain grateful for what Oak Park is allowed to have.

“Since we are one of the schools that still have rallies, I’m not complaining,” Krishnan said.