Every year, Mercer Island High School, the only public high school in Mercer Island, Washington, holds the district’s Fine Arts Showcase. This year, the event occurred on the same day as a football game.
Each year, the school also hosts four Flag Dudes, historically cisgender male seniors, to inspire enthusiasm at games and participate in administration-approved testosterone-fueled tomfoolery at assemblies. These are not typically the type of people I associate with, but one of them is involved in our school newspaper, and we’ve grown quite fond of each other.
As I walked down the hallway the day of Showcase, our school’s security liaison asked one of the Dudes why the day’s home game was made an away game, to which the Flag Dude responded, “Stupid Fine Arts Showcase,” or something of that nature.
I was offended, but more than that, I was disturbed. I understand that the clash of jocks and nerds is here to stay, and to be honest, I am not against that; as long as conflict doesn’t result in hurt, emotional or physical, it can be quite cathartic. But, on the other hand, if certain students are selected to represent the school, they must be held accountable to make all students feel included and safe. If not, spirit groups contribute to the sense of division they supposedly intend to counteract.
To make matters worse, I see many freshmen and sophomore boys idolizing the Dudes and the half-hearted inclusion they represent. If the administration selected students to represent the school’s values accurately, even if these same students were worshipped, at least the school wouldn’t be endorsing their behavior.
To be clear, I do not think we have to intellectualize spirit, nor am I against groups like the Dudes. I’m happy to attend football games, and I’m even okay with the deliberately moronic “sketches” the Dudes present at assemblies that would make Belushi roll in his grave. Nonetheless, school-sponsored spirit groups and their members must exemplify the school’s standards outside such events.
It is important to note that unlike the villains of 80s teen comedies, jocks’ rambunctious behavior has become self-aware. However, as Bo Burnham stated in his 2021 comedy special Inside, “Self-awareness does not absolve anybody of anything.” Admittedly, I believe that the jock/nerd feud has become more peaceful over time, but the hostile attitude can still be seen, heard, and felt in the hallways daily.
Spirit can make students feel like they belong, especially if they don’t feel that way at home. Spirit can be found in teachers, fellow students, or activities like drama and sports. When an administrator talks about school spirit on a megaphone at an assembly, it can feel cliché, but I know from my peers that school spirit in its genuine form can uplift a student’s life.
I’m not against school spirit, but we must shift how we define it as a community to preserve the sense of welcoming it is intended to create.
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