By Isabella Montenegro
Editor-in-chief &
Kayla Kinsey
Opinion Editor &
Teah Harris
Staff Writer
Costa’s Winter Formal has faced criticism as a result of strict timing enforcements on students that force them to stay until a certain hour. Formal attendance has been rapidly decreasing due to the these rules; however, these are put in place for the overall safety of the student body.
Winter Formal is taking place tomorrow at the Westdrift Hotel in Manhattan Beach. The dance will begin at 7 p.m. and end at 11 p.m., but students are required to stay from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. According to Associative Student Body (ASB), Costa Principal Dr. Karina Gerger will announce the final time attendees will be required to stay as the dance approaches. Safety and
security should be the main priority, which is properly executed by the enforcement of spontaneous breathalyzer tests, along with the vigilant supervision of School Resource Officer Donovan Torres, as well as Costa security and administrators.
According to ASB senior class President Tyler Tang, if students took the chance to appreciate the hard work that went into the dance, they would be able to forget about trying to leave and just enjoy dancing and spending time together. Per Tang, school dances bring the Costa community together and provide an opportunity for students to bond.
ASB Director Lisa Claypoole states that many juniors and seniors will not be attending the dance because they prefer alternative parties. This illustrates how upperclassmen set an example for younger audiences, ultimately affecting the overall dynamic of school dances. Winter Formal will have 1,000 to 1,100 attendees, which is minimal compared to this year’s Homecoming, with 1,600 tickets sold. This comparison conveys the decreasing attendance that is occurring for Costa’s dances and events.
According to Claypoole, students must stay until a certain time due to legal liability issues, such as parents trusting the administration to ensure the safety of their children at school events. This liability factor exemplifies the concept that students cannot leave when they wish to at the dance.
Although the legal issues are evident, many argue that students should be able to leave whenever they feel like it. Per the survey taken by 200 students at Costa, 97.9% believes that attendees should be allowed to leave at their leisure. However, due to liability issues and the goal of school unity, keeping students until a certain time proves to be a positive policy by Costa
administration.
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