The 2019 Vice dance, themed “Welcome to the Jungle,” took place in the Oak Park High School Pavilion Feb. 22.

“We actually came up with the theme when we were planning last year’s vice,” co-chair of the Dance Committee and senior Sarah Schulze wrote to the Talon. “Our senior class is known as ‘the jungle’ so we wanted to do it as a tribute to this year’s senior class.”

According to Schulze, Vice has grown in attendance over the past four years, with the senior class bringing the most people.

“The senior class two years ago made a big push to try to get more seniors at Vice and the trend has stuck,” Schulze wrote.

Co-chair and senior Hannah Gates commented on the persistent difference in turnout between the homecoming dance and the vice dance.

“Homecoming is a really big event because we have a rally and a football game during the homecoming season,” Gates wrote to the Talon. “Vice is in the middle of the year and there is not a whole week of events to hype the dance.”

The time of the dance partially overlapped with a track meet, resulting in scheduling conflicts for track athletes who wanted to attend the dance.

“I’m probably just going to leave the track meet early if need be,” senior Zach Leith wrote to the Talon. “I think school activities are worth going to because [ASB] put effort into putting them together so it would be counterproductive if you didn’t go.”

Schulze, who is on the track team, had to miss the meet in order to attend the dance, as it is mandatory for ASB members.

“I am pretty bummed about that. Normally I wouldn’t miss a meet, but being that I’m co-chair of the dance committee, this is a meet I will not be going to,” Schulze wrote.

Although dances have their traditions, Gates wrote that there is no rule that girls must ask boys.

“In my experience … not as many people ask people to Vice as more people go with friends,” Gates wrote. “Guys can still ask girls if they want! I think it’s important that people can still ask whoever they want.”

Leith said there are more and more elaborate “proposals” showing up to ask someone to a dance.

“Good for them [for] putting in the effort,” Leith wrote. “I think it makes people feel special when people go out of their way to ask them with something.”