While most of the school is waiting with giddy anticipation for Homecoming Week, also coined Freshmen Hell Week because of the traditional “freshmen initiation”, the administration has increased the emphases on leaving freshmen alone during this week.
Like an overly protective mother, the administration seeks to steer the freshmen clear of conflict with the upperclassmen during Freshmen Hell Week. In the past weeks, the freshmen have been one of the administration’s top priorities. “The counselors were concerned [that I was marked up] …but I didn’t really feel all that bad about it…. because I let my friends do it to me,” said senior Mary Ghitelman.
Typically, during Freshmen Hell Week, the harassment is mild and consists only of teasing by friends and older siblings, but occasionally, this teasing would get out of hand. An example: upperclassmen used to “F” freshmen by writing the letter F on their foreheads with a marker or dark pen. This was put to a stop last year. Also, the upperclassmen would point to freshmen and call out “freshmen, freshmen!” during pep rallies.
The administration has their view on Freshmen Hell Week, and so do the seniors, but what’s a genuine freshman’s view on the matter? “It depends…I don’t mind if [it’s] my friends, but [it’s]… annoying if I have no idea who they are,” said freshman Kaitlyn Townsend-Gray. According to Dr. Munk, no freshman has come to the administration with a complaint.
The rules surrounding Freshmen Hell Week are not noticeably stricter then in years past. Even though traditions and initiations are created to be fun, they can easily get out of hand, leading to suspensions by the administration, something that everyone tries to avoid.
“Some people who’ve done it in the past have done it…in a mean spirited way, rather then a fun way,” said Dr. Munk. According to Dr. Munk, the administration is committed to helping the freshmen, should they need it. However egging upperclassmen on or writing Fs on themselves not allowed either.
Hopefully as the year progresses, the freshmen will feel that they are more than just “fresh meat”; rather they are a valued part of the RHS food chain. After all, soon enough they will be the upperclassmen staring down at next year’s freshmen.
