Competition is a fact of human life. We've all had moments of anger, resentment and even malice towards another group or team. Such emotions can be dangerous when suppressed: bottled-up rage, for example, can lead to some particularly nasty outbursts. This same logic applies to Gunn, where many students start their year with excess energy left over from the summer.

For antsy students, Homecoming provides a break from the humdrum school routine. Energetic participation in Homecoming activities allows the student body to come together in the spirit of competition. In the past few years, the administration has been interpreting these releases of energy–most notably booing–as lack of sportsmanship. It has failed to recognize that health competition is a natural part of any game people care about, and its inhibition only leads to unnecessary frustration.

Competition is nothing new to human society. The Olympics have been around since ancient Greece, and remain today as a way for nations to bond in the spirit of games. Fans may jeer, but all in all, the Olympics unify rather than divide. Homecoming functions similarly: classes boo each other and compete vigorously for points, but in the end, they are brought together by Gunn pride. Rarely has class rivalry been anything but a joke after Homecoming, because whatever competitiveness existed was released. Perhaps people complain about losing a competition or two, but if shows of frustration were not allowed, simple disappointment would develop into something far worse.

One infamous show of frustration is the walk-out of the class of '07. After losing the airband competition in 2005, nearly the entire class got up and left the even. Principal Noreen Likins recently commented during an Oracle press conference that the walk-out was the worst competition-related problem she had ever encountered. The event is spoken about with great severity, but think for a moment: What did it consist of? A group of juniors simply decided to walk out of the gym. No one torched buildings, threw objects or even beat up underclassmen. In fact, walking out might have been the most pacifistic choice possible. The fact that it was the worst problem in recent years is a mark of our student body's self-control. Perhaps some see it as unsportsmanlike, but in the face of a maddening event, it makes perfect sense to express anger. Getting angry over something shows that you care about it, and caring about your team–or in this case, your class–is only human. Anger is one of the necessary steps to acceptance, and it is only problematic when violent. In such cases, punishment can be carefully administered to discourage the few who take Homecoming a little too seriously: for example, a student can be barred from the dance if he or she hurts or offends anyone personally. Making sure everyone is being nice at all times takes much more time and energy than it's worth.

Like airbands, nearly all Homecoming events encourage dedication and teamwork. From the cheerleaders to the float-builders, literally hundreds of students take time out of their busy schedules to contribute to the spirit and success of the week. In return, those who do not participate in events cheer from the stands, showing their peers that their efforts matter. Occasional booing peppers these cheers. Many consider it offensive, but they miss the larger picture: it adds excitement to the events that would not be possible in a gym full of people just cheering for each other. Frankly, crowds that do not react are boring. High school-aged contestants are quite mature enough to not take booing personally, and draining the life from the competitions is hardly any way to thank them.

Homecoming today may be associated with class competition, but its roots are in school spirit. The two can coexist successfully–previous generations have proved this many times. Undue restrictions dull Gunn pride as well as class rivalry. The administration must understand this concept and keep Homecoming enjoyable by loosening the definition of "getting out of hand." Harsh punishment should be given to those who really do become violent, but the rest of us should be allowed to have fun before homework piles up. We are, after all, only human.