By Rebecca Houston-Read
As most of you have probably heard by now, the pre-Thanksgiving football game known to us as Powderpuff has been canceled.
For many students, including myself, Powderpuff has always been a unifying, spirited, fun event that is one of the highlights of high school, right up there with the prom and semi.
Because the game is so special, this news was upsetting and disappointing for many students. I was also upset, but mostly I felt confused.
There was no warning or indication that cancellation was even being considered for this year. For a school so engaged in participatory governance, the student body had no idea that this cancellation was even in the works. No negotiations, no nothing!
Discussions with the class officers and participants could lead to modification, not cancellation of one of the most beloved school traditions.
We don’t need to end the tradition.
Plenty of changes could be made to make the game safer, both emotionally and physically. Here are the concerns that Mr. Stembridge outlined in his letter and here are my suggestions about what can be done as an alternative to cancellation:
1) “The game itself is dangerous. Last year alone there were three concussions and one serious knee injury. A couple of years ago there were broken bones. In my four years as principal, we have yet to have an injury-free game.”
The school’s concern about the injuries that have occurred during prior Powderpuff games is a legitimate issue. However, I believe that if students knew that there would be a severe consequence for any rough tackles, I believe there would be no injuries at all. As for accidents, players know that they risk getting hurt by participating in the Powderpuff game as they do when they participate in any physical activity. In order to minimize the risk, we could also ask the Wellness department to provide more officials or even ask class officers to help make the game as safe as possible.
2) “The game, and the lead-up to the game, destabilizes our normally supportive, welcoming, intimidation-free school environment. From groups of students marching through the halls chanting slogans to destruction of decorations to vandalism of personal property — this school-sponsored activity leads to incidents that we would otherwise describe as ‘bullying.’”
As for the intimidation-free environment, walking through the hallways on the day of Powderpuff the last two years has made me feel nothing but excitement and pride for our school. Also, if students knew that the consequences of any vandalism would result in no game at all, I believe vandalism would not occur.
3) “We have heard in previous years that for some of the girls the pressure to participate borders on coercion and creates a stressful environment in which they must choose between disappointing classmates and engaging in inauthentic and dangerous behavior.”
It is unfortunate that some girls in the past have felt pressure from fellow classmates to participate in this game when they did not want to play. However, in life, you have to learn to deal with peer pressure and make tough decisions that may not make everyone happy. If some girls don’t want to play, we could emphasize that we are not to be pressuring them. Also many girls have found it fun just to stand on the sidelines, wear a personalized jersey, and cheer for the team — a nice compromise.
4) “The event does not include the whole school. It does not celebrate the diversity of the interests of our students, nor does it encourage appreciation for skills and/or expertise developed here at South.”
In a school of 1,742 students, it would be hard to find an event that celebrates everyone’s different skills and talents. However throughout the year different groups in the school get their shining moments. The theatre holds two musicals and many plays, not to mention one that is student-directed. Science, math, and debate teams have their competitions, and sports have their games. Powderpuff is probably the closest we can get to an all-school event besides semi and prom. A large percentage of the student body attends this game just to be a part of the excitement and school spirit. For the junior class, more than half the girls signed up to play.
5) “And in terms of gender politics, the name ‘powderpuff,’ which most students still call the game, inadvertently serves to mock the hard-fought struggles of female athletes to be taken seriously and, we think, perpetuates negative stereotypes about femininity and female athletes. Our young women’s athletic achievements deserve to be taken more seriously.”
As for the last one, changing the name of the event to something more socially acceptable is an easy task that’ll make everyone happy.
I have been waiting to participate in powderpuff for years, as have many of my classmates. Although this tradition had sexist origins, its transformed into an event that female students can take pride in. To quote Sam Walters, a member of the class of 2014, “South has been maligned for no school spirit and no sport support relentlessly. The one day we take any unbridled, non-ironic pride in this place is the day of Powderpuff, where all the cliques and groups are thrown out the window. We’re all just one school, proud, for whatever reason, to call ourselves lions.”
I love South, sports, and school spirit, and I believe modifications can be made to ensure that the game is played safely while maintaining a beloved South tradition that so many students look forward to each year.
