A Disappointing Death March
photo credit: Claudia Cheffs
By Marki Webster, Staff writer
“People were pushing others and screaming. It was so crazy…” Lauren Fields, junior, remembers.
But because of what the administration felt to be excessive numbers and other factors, the march was cancelled for school participation there on out.
In years past, the funeral procession was solely a band activity. Several band members would march around campus carrying a casket and play a funeral dirge. Then football players were invited to carry the casket, and students were permitted to watch from the door. This however, eventually evolved into a school wide activity. Students, with the permission of their teachers, were able to leave the last few minutes of 4th period and participate in the Death March as the football players, band, and ASB passed classrooms rallying on Edison Week spirit.
However last year, the procession started right at the beginning of 4th period and people who were still heading back from the second assembly joined in without going to their 4th period teachers to ask for permission. Additionally, new teachers who did not realize that participation in the Death March was optional let their students go at their students\’ insistence.
Herzfeld was not ready to issue a school wide cancellation of fourth period classes, so over the school speakers, he announced a cancellation of the Death March. All the students had to return to class or risk Saturday school.
Many students were upset and accused Supervision of mishandling the situation and using excessive force to get students back to class. However, after examining a videotape of the march, it was shown that force was not used, and there were no reports of injury from the school nursing staff.
This year, the Death March was very exclusive. Only the varsity football team and senior band, accompanied by security, marched along the hallways. A certain number of colored wristbands were given to approved participants. ASB gave up their wristbands to allow the entire football varsity team to participate. Students were not allowed to leave their rooms, but many teachers opened their door or allowed students to look out the window as the procession passed by.
There was none of the usual screaming, running, or pounding on doors and windows this Edison Week. The only sound that echoed in the FVHS halls before the Battle of the Bell was the melancholy dirge from the senior band and the sound of the football players\’ footsteps.
Many students from the class of 2009 argue that the Death March is tradition, and to cancel the Death March because of one occurrence is upsetting.
Senior Jenny Tran says, “Everyone, especially the seniors, should be allowed to take part in the Death March. It’s not fair that it’s only limited to football players and band members.”
“The freshmen and sophomores don\’t know what they\’re missing out on,” says a senior who wished to remain anonymous. “To participate in the Death March was to feel like we were all one fighting for one cause—to defeat Edison. It\’s unfortunate that security and administration would deprive them, and us, of this high school experience.”
However, seniors aren\’t the only ones who are upset.
Sophomore Alexa Pender says, “I think we should all be a part of it.” He suggested an alternative by having it take place at the end of day so no one would cut class.
Although changing the scheduled time of the Death March seems like a good idea and a fair approach, administration says it doesn\’t have a choice because of safety issues.
A junior who wanted to be anonymous says, “I only watched it from my class door…it was really disappointing. It\’s really possible for it to be a school wide activity if security and administration handled it better.”
