In an effort to reduce inappropriate behavior at dances, the Student Executive Council (SEC) and the administration are discussing ways to increase the enforcement of dance rules, which include adding a written contract and limiting the genres of music that can be played at dances. If implemented, the written rules may be enforced as early as the Sadies Hawkins Dance in February.

Though the administration has used humor in the form of morning video announcements and chaperones to try to curb the amount of freak dancing, “there is some amount of concern that despite our best efforts there still is a decent amount of freak dancing,” Student Activities Director Lisa Hall said.

Principal Noreen Likins agrees. “Some students are less comfortable with blatant sexuality,” she said. “Admin and parent chaperones [have also found] it shocking. The DJ we hire has said that some of the behavior he has seen at our dances is prohibited at clubs.” Hall also believes that since “we are a multicultural school, there are people with a lot of different values and opinions about what they think is appropriate.”

Although the rules state that students will be asked to leave upon an infraction, the administration has only been issuing warnings. “Our current system of warning students is not working because there have been no actual consequences,” Likins said. “[In the future], students will be asked to leave [with the first offense].”

Some students believe that the written contract will lower the popularity of the dances. “It will be a downer on the morale of the dance,” senior Dance Commissioner Claire Reyes said. Students may also view signing the paper and turning it in as a tedious procedure, according to Reyes. Junior Leo Moley agrees that the written contract will deter students from attending dances. “I think it will have the same effect as breathalyzers,” he said. “It will lessen the amount of people who attend and be counterproductive.”

Other students have emphasized that freak dancing is an essential part of dances. “It’s a part of the culture of our age group,” Reyes said. “If they want to freak, they will.”

But according to Assistant Principal of Guidance Kimberley Cowell, the fact that freak dancing is prominent in teen culture does not mean that it should be widely accepted. “Many people find the type of dancing we find at school dances as obscene, immoral and extremely uncomfortable,” Cowell said. “Our role as adults is to guide teenagers to find their way and lead them away from things that are not in their best interests.”

Hall brought up the idea of using a signed written contract after discovering that it was used at Downey High School, which is located near Los Angeles. According to Downey High School Assistant Principal Lisa Lucke, the contract has been very effective since its introduction four years ago. “We had to be very vigilant in the beginning, but now some students—especially the freshmen and sophomores who felt uncomfortable at dances—are even relieved that the contract has been implemented,” she said. According to Lucke, the contract did not decrease student attendance from their big dances, such as the Winter Formal and Prom, and has in fact resulted in a change in students’ dance styles. “Because we have a high Latino student population at our school, we’ve been playing more salsa music, and the crowd loves it,” she said.

According to Hall, the written contract would give the administration documented evidence of agreement, making enforcement of the rules easier and ensuring that everyone is aware of the rules. “The contract [would be put in place] to make sure that everyone who comes to the dance knows what is expected of them, [since students, guests and possibly parents will need to sign it],” Hall said. “It would be understood that by signing it, they have already read the contract.”

Hall emphasized the fact that the contract will only put what is already in place in writing. “The students are already aware of our policies,” Hall said. “They know that no food or drinks are allowed, that they may be subject to bag search, need to be dressed appropriately according to school rules, will be breathalyzed and are not allowed to go in and out of the building.” In addition, the contract would also include information about when the dance starts and ends, when doors close and where tickets are sold.

The administration is also considering changing the type of music that can be played at dances. “Depending on the music, students behave in a particular way,” Likins said. “Hip hop music, for instance, encourages freak dancing.” Though hip hop music has not been banned, Likins stated that DJs have been given a list of songs that can’t be played at previous dances.

To compensate for hip hop, Hall said that there may be more electronic and techno music. “There’s a rising popularity in these genres of music,” Hall said. “There are always students who ask for more of these songs at the dances.” Likins also suggested the possibility of having themed dances. “We can bring back line dancing or rock and roll—something different,” she said. “It’s nice to have a change.”

Despite that the written contract may call for a tedious process, Reyes approves of the measures that the administration is taking. “I think it’s a step in the right direction,” Reyes said. “It’s going to help enforce the rules and show that [we are] getting more serious [with the rules] and that there will be consequences.”

SEC and the administration are currently working together to form the contract, which is still in its early stages, according to Hall.