The Accolade Editorial Board unanimously agrees that senior pranks belong on the list of traditions for each graduating class’ personal interests; nevertheless, we agree with school officials who view last year’s senior prank as borderline vandalism and encourage each graduating class to consider more respectful pranks like a sleepover in the quad or a Post-it extravaganza on the wall of a building.

Last year — May 24, the last day seniors were required to come to school — unspecified members of the Class of 2024 allegedly decided to, quite literally, leave their mark on certain parts of the campus with notorious, despicable sights. Profane chalk writings etched locker doors in the hallways and condemnable language written in chalk sprawled across the concrete in the quad.

That was just a fraction of the mess that some of these vandals left behind. Eggs’ noxious smell also polluted the hallways, while toilet paper hung limply from the trees in the quad. 

These immature pranksters went to unnecessary lengths to emphasize their impulsive views of the school and those who work in it, and this year’s seniors should resist the temptation to top last year’s antics in the name of tradition.

This so-called adrenaline rush diminishes into becoming a completely deplorable activity, all because of a few who find potential vandalism “funny.” The joke really doesn’t last long, especially for those 18 years or older. Actually, when some of us on the editorial board met with principal Craig Weinreich to discuss this topic, he said these pranks — regarded as borderline criminal behavior — are something he strongly discourages as they tarnish the school’s reputation. 

Also, if any future acts cross that line to involve law enforcement, then those who are no longer minors can face criminal charges and possibly be tried as adults. So those in the Class of 2025 and all future seniors should consider toning their proclivity toward leaving their “mark” down a notch. These activities are no laughing matter. 

We also came into the principal’s meeting with the idea of senior pranks being “not that bad,” but upon considering what he had to say, we reconvened and revised our main points to reflect upon the inconvenience and disrespect such acts bring to our school and the people here.

Last year’s aberration wasn’t the first time some Lancers chose to pull a senior prank. Profanity on teachers’ classroom doors has unfortunately become too much of a redundant act. What’s worse was what happened in 2010, when some vandals decided to pour oil all over the steep hill in the front of the campus outside the Performing Arts Center on Lancer Way. According to an March 2010 Orange County Register article, the cleanup cost ended up at over $25,000.

Besides the monetary consequence to our school budget, administrators issued a severe consequence for all students as they canceled an event known as Mr. Sunny Hills, an after-school talent pageant recognizing senior boys that’s open for the whole school to watch. Math teacher Jae Byun, who graduated in 2010, said he and some of his fellow 12th-graders had to resort to finding an off-campus venue to keep Mr. Sunny Hills alive for that year.

Finally, if the antics don’t fall into the legal justice realm, Weinreich told us the worst consequences that administrators can hold over the pranksters when caught would be to ban them from walking during the graduation ceremony and issue them a fine depending on the cost of the damages.

Fortunately, the principal said the entire senior class will not face these dire consequences. Of course, those who actively participate in this distasteful crime and are caught by the 80-plus surveillance cameras on campus will be the ones facing repercussions. 

Now, we do acknowledge that the anticipation of someone pulling senior pranks is a non-school-affiliated tradition many of us look forward to like prom, homecoming and other rites of passage for high school students, which is why it won’t hurt to have a little fun — as long as the prank is creative and not destructive and without an ounce of illegal and inappropriate behavior. For example, those at an all-boys private school in Texas decided to decorate the campus with a Luau theme; leis graced the neck of statues, colorful streamers — not toilet paper — hung down from the ceiling of hallways. Those seniors also set up a dunk tank, offered shaved ice and created games for the student body to enjoy, according to a photo essay that appeared on the last page of the April 17 issue of The Remarker at St. Mark’s School of Texas.

So in the name of fun and games, let’s drop the eggings and pick up something we can consider a more school-friendly prank — perhaps something like bringing sleeping bags and camping out in the quad or maybe even covering the gym in fluorescent Post-its to make sure the nostalgic memories really do “stick,” ideas that our principal approved of. 

The Accolade Editorial Board is made up of the top editors and section editors on the 2024-2025 staff with the guidance of adviser Tommy Li. If you have a question about the board’s decision or an issue for the board to discuss and write about, please send an email to [email protected].