Burning of the ‘I’ questions answered

2008 Yearbook Photo

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Courtney Ochi
October 3, 2009
Filed under Features, News

I’m just as upset about the controversy over the Burning of the “I” as everyone else, but like it or not, changes have occurred that we must all respect and live with.

Dr. Val Iwashita spoke to the senior class about these new changes during chapel on Thursday, September 16, 2009.  His speech answered many “burning” questions on the minds of the students.  It also acknowledged the revised format for the ceremony.

For those of you that are still unclear as to why this longstanding tradition has been revised and what’s next, here are the answers to your questions.

What was the Burning of the “I”?

It was a ceremony that first started in the fall of 1961.  Since then, it has occurred after Ho’olaulea during Homecoming.  The sons and daughters of the senior class would line up in a circle around an “I”.  Thirteen of the sons and daughters held torches and burned the “I”.

Why was the tradition changed?

In a letter sent to the sons and daughters of the class of 2010, Dr. Iwashita used the word “divisive” to explain his reasoning for canceling the exclusive event.

Who was involved in making this decision?

Dr. Iwashita, along with other members of the faculty, have been discussing how to revise the event for the past 5 years.  In August, Dr. Iwashita also met with about half a dozen sons and daughters from the Class of 2010 to listen to their ideas.  A new proposed plan was created and then relayed to the senior prefects during their annual sleepover.  The prefects discussed the new format of the ceremony, but had no actual input to any further changes.

Was the Board of Governors part of the decision making process?

No.  Not all of the board was aware that any change had even occurred.

How have the sons and daughters reacted to this change?

Claire and Jackie Mosteller ’10 wrote a letter to the headmaster to challenge his original cancellation by proposing a new idea.  They asked other sons and daughters if they would be willing to sign their names to the letter.  Many did.  However, a percentage of the sons and daughters were told that the letter was meant to bring the ceremony back.  They were not all told that the new proposal would be inclusive.

Many parents, of students not only in the Class of 2010, also rallied together and flooded Dr. Iwashita’s office with letters and calls to share their opinions.

Will the sons and daughters get to exclusively burn the “I” again?

No.  At a sons and daughters potluck in August, Christopher Geiger ’10 represented the group of a half a dozen sons and daughters that met with Dr. Iwashita.  Geiger summarized the ideas put forth at the meeting and said that the sons and daughters would not be able to exclusively burn the “I” “as long as Dr. Iwashita is headmaster.”

What will the new format of the Burning of the “I” ceremony entail?

The ceremony will no longer exclusively include the sons and daughters.  There will be two concentric circles for the seniors to stand in around the “I”.  Eight people will burn this year’s “I”:  3 proconsuls, senior class president, 2 faculty yearbook dedication recipients, an alumni representative and the lower school sportsmanship award winner.

Will any other sons and daughters traditions be taken away this year?

At the sons and daughters potluck, Geiger also stated that Dr. Iwashita had no plans to take away any other traditions including Baccalaureate seating and Graduation pins.  Mr. Kirk Uejio, director of student activities, also announced the same information to the senior prefects during a discussion at their sleepover.

Although many students are still frustrated by the change, no one interviewed was willing to be quoted due to a fear of possible administrative discipline.  Changes to the format of the Burning of the “I” are in place.  Only time will tell if students will attend the newly revised, inclusive event.