The Last First Day: Senior Benches land grab
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August 27, 2009 • Courtney Ochi
Filed under News, Uncategorized
At 4:30 a.m. on the first day of school, the autoline was empty, the streets around school were calm, and it was easy to find a parking space.
But beneath the library, the new seniors of the class of 2010 anxiously gathered to claim victory and ownership of the coveted senior benches.
The benches below the library have traditionally been designated for seniors to sit and mingle with one another. Different groups sit on different benches, but the overall area is meant to unify the grade during their last year at ‘Iolani.
Conflict occurs when different groups want the same bench. This year, a number of groups arrived before 5 a.m. and marked their territory, thinking that the fight was over. However, Mr. Tate Brown, dean of students, cut the premature celebration short and ordered everyone to clear the area until 6:20 a.m.
More and more students began crowding along the edge of the benches, eyeing the area they were after and judging other groups’ next move.
“This is ours, everybody,” said Larson Leu ‘10, as he pointed towards the four benches along the wall.
When the time finally came, Mr. Brown stood in the middle of the benches to warn students that the area is a privilege, not a right. However, the majority of the students were more focused on getting ready to sprint. Ally Harada ‘10 lunged in a running position waiting to hear the word “go” come out of Mr. Brown’s mouth.
And with that word came rapid chaos. Groups attacked the benches, jumping on top, and even belly flopping over them. Some problems occured when two groups claimed the same benches along one of the walls, but overall, conflict was settled and the seniors comfortably moved into their new home.
“[My group] got the benches that we wanted. We didn’t have to fight, we just strolled right in,” said Lauren Onaka ‘10. Some administrators believe a lottery system would be more beneficial in picking benches, but the seniors disagree.
“The lottery system would work, but it would take away from tradition,” said Lori Yamashita ‘10. “Either way some people are going to be disappointed, but the way people pick benches now adds more excitement and fun to the experience of becoming a senior.”
Principal Val Iwashita closed the morning with a welcoming speech to the senior class. He addressed the issue of the “Burning of the I” cancellation, but gave hope to the Sons and Daughters of the Class of 2010 that some kind of solution would be met and that this would be an excellent year.
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First article for the new school year? Yay!