It’s a shame how one event can trash a school’s reputation.

On May 12, a food fight broke out during C lunch, causing turmoil amongst the approximately 800 students assigned to that lunch period. This caused a stampede towards the doors of the cafeteria as students tried to get out of the chaos.

Administrators were forced to restrain those participating in the food fight. They were then tasked with formulating a solution to the event, which, thanks to local news crews, quickly escalated.

“My initial reaction was disappointment, which built to anger as more details came out,” said Principal Paul Wardinski.

Immediately after the fight took place, the main participants were identified and made to help clean up the mess in the cafeteria. Even with their help, custodians were working  even past 8:30 P.M. Not all contributors received this punishment, but the administration is looking for a way to allow the student body to redeem itself as a whole.

“When it becomes a melee so fast, it’s impossible to tell [exactly who was throwing food],” said Wardinski. “You have to weigh nailing the people who did it and those who didn’t.”

One planned resolution is a Senior Beautification Day on June 4. In an e-mail that went out to parents of seniors on May 17, the administration outlined their plans for community-building activities that would help restore our school’s reputation. Participating in these activities will allow those accused of throwing food to regain senior privileges like Prom, Senior Picnic and Senior Trip.

Additionally, a food drive will be sponsored by the school as a symbol that food can be used for a good cause, after it was utilized in such a negative manner. All students are encouraged to participate whether or not they were actually involved, in order to show unity amongst Spartans.

“I think everyone should help out. [Beautification Day] is not about admitting guilt, it’s about making things right,” said senior class president Mary Walsh. “It’s not about getting the privileges back, it’s about fixing our reputation.”

WS usually has a good standing in the community, but this event has caused people to question the effectiveness of the discipline enforced in the school as well as the maturity level of our student body. The main goal of this Beautification Day and food drive is to prove to the public that WS is still a respectable high school.

“Hopefully we’ll come out of this learning something and turning a negative situation into a more positive one,” said Wardinski.

One of the biggest negatives of the food fight was the way it affected the special needs students, who eat during C lunch. All the chaos led them to fear not only eating lunch in the cafeteria, but coming to school altogether.

“All they want is to be part of the school. Actually eating in [the cafeteria], being around normal kids for 30 minutes, is a big deal for them,” said Wardinski.

Students are encouraged to write letters of apology to the special needs classes, expressing regret that the food fight caused them so much emotional pain. Again, even those not involved should try to make amends for the situation.

Some wondered why, if the administration knew about the food fight, the special needs students were not evacuated from the cafeteria before the events took place.

“We shouldn’t have to move them [from the cafeteria],” said Wardinksi. “They deserve to have a normal lunch.”

During all lunches that day, there were a minimum of ten administrators and teachers in the cafeteria in an effort to prevent students from disrupting the peaceful environment.

“Usually that handles it, because most people don’t want to get caught, but people were so determined to do it that it didn’t matter,” said Wardinski.

Although the food fight was viewed as a senior prank by many administrators and the surrounding community, people from all grades were involved. Tacos, raw eggs and hot lunches were thrown, turning the situation from a mild disruption into a barbaric scene straight out of a movie.

Injuries actually occurred as a result of the food fight, raising the question of how far student are willing to go for “fun.”

“Some pranks can be cute. Other pranks are more appropriate and fun,” said Wardinski, “but when safety is compromised, the fun is lost.”