Enter the student section at any given Friday night football game. There aren’t just students cheering; there are students screaming, jumping and pushing each other around. The crowd is dressed in white from head to toe; it’s a white out.
As the offense runs into the end zone and scores a touchdown, baby powder flies up in the air, a DGN tradition. Within minutes, the deans have confiscated the powder and the crowd settles down.
According to N-Zone sponsor Kim Jaros, baby powder, silly string, noise makers, and cheers against the other team are not allowed at athletic events. However, the N-Zone leaders are always open to new ways to show off school spirit. “Typically, if the students come up with an idea, we have to get it approved by the administration before allowing the students to do it,” Jaros said.
N-Zone leaders like senior Pat Drabik are in charge of making sure the crowd behaves while also boosting the overall energy. “It’s hard to find the balance between fun and following the rules,” Drabik said. “If people want to start a cheer that’s inappropriate I have to stop them and think of appropriate cheers.”
It’s not just the student leaders that have trouble balancing fun and safety, but the deans who supervise do as well. Dean Tim Tilton patrols the student section during football games. “It’s just not safe or good etiquette to throw things in the air, especially not substances that can be inhaled by bystanders and that cause the bleachers to be very slippery once the powder lands,” Tilton said. “[But] I think overall, our students do a great job of being responsible fans in our stadium.”
Senior Victoria Lies is a face frequent in the stands at home. “The student section is a fun place to watch the football game with friends,” Lies said. “The rowdiness of the student section pumps up the football team. If you are concerned about any [dangerous props] you shouldn’t be in the student section to begin with.”
N-Zone leader senior Erinn Casey believes the added props make the student section more exciting and enjoyable. “I understand that some of the rules that are currently in place were set for safety and health reasons, but disallowing harmless objects such as streamers and confetti seems a little extreme,” Casey said.
All things considered, the risks of throwing baby powder and confetti around seem worth it to the students. “I think the props improve the experience. High school only happens once and the craziness and fun the student section brings to the games give you and your friends so many fun memories,” Lies said.
Despite the deans attempt to limit what goes on in the student section, nowhere in the student handbook does it specifically discuss rules and expectations of the student section. According to Titlon, the expectations fall under the general respecful behavior at school functions.
It’s up to the staff to determine the balance between fun and safe. “The school administration needs to find the line between acceptable and unacceptable rules. It seems that too often these days the administration is going a little too far to protect everyone, taking away the experience of our high school careers. If people don’t like the confetti and baby powder that’s fine-don’t go to the games,” senior N-Zone member Lauren Taylor said.
Mia Chudzik | Feature Editor
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Karoline Lucas | Staff Writer
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