Long ago, the first few scholars with affinities for monogrammed backpacks and chicken fingers founded Ridge High School, creating traditions that they hoped would carry on for future generations. One of these traditions, Senior Spirit Week, preserves the values of unity and spirit by allowing high school seniors to celebrate one last “hurrah” of childhood before adulthood deems dressing up obnoxiously to be “immature.” Unfortunately, the class of 2017 destroyed this legacy and the very concept of Spirit Week.

For those who don’t know what Senior Spirit Week is, on each day of the week before homecoming, seniors dress up to some unique theme of their choice. Some honorable mentions from past years include Wall Street Wednesday, when students walked around in high heels and suits while talking into earpieces, Tourist Tuesday, when students imitated lost tourists attempting to navigate through school, and Western Wednesday, when a girl rode to school on a horse.

Every year, underclassmen look out for what new theme seniors will come up with and what kinds of interesting characters will walk down the hallways. Every year, the week ends with the homecoming game and tailgate as the seniors unite. Amongst the smell of grilling burgers and Bean Bag Toss games at senior tailgate, seniors are supposed to feel pride for their high school. Unfortunately, things did not work out this way this year.

In fact, things completely fell apart. But how?

The catastrophe started before an ill-planned battle in the atrium on Medieval Monday. This theme included a plethora of people dressed as princesses, wizards, knights, kings, queens, and much more. For a brief time, students enjoyed the spirit and the creative theme.

But then, in just four minutes between third and fourth period, a handful of students decided to participate in a mock joust in the atrium. However, this ended up looking more like a swarm of boys carrying weapons and mauling each other than a joust. For four minutes, everyone reveled at the dramatic ridiculousness of the situation, laughing at it all. Unfortunately, the fight got too violent and one student needed medical attention for a split lip, causing administrators to take action.

Following the fight, Principal Howlett issued a Friday Folder cancelling Spirit Week.

Ashley Yang ’17 stated that “though [she] wanted spirit week to continue, [she believed] that the administration was justified in their decision to suspend spirit week. The possible damages that could have been done, and unknown future shenanigans outweighed the senior tradition. [Principal Howlett’s action] helps remind that [senior spirit week] is a privilege and that we’re privileged. I’m upset that one small group ruined it for the other five hundred of us, but sometimes punishments work out the way this one did.”

Overwhelmingly, students responded to the event with a sentiment that a few individuals ruined a tradition for a far greater amount of people. Unfortunately for the senior class, they did not dress up for Tuesday or any other day that week, and several administrators sent home the very few who did before they reached the halls. And so, the long standing tradition died a pitiful death, right next to the pep rally from a few years ago. We now only fondly remember what once stood for unity and youthfulness. May Senior Spirit Week rest in peace.