For generations, the gymnasium has been the heart of our prom celebrations. Our older siblings, friends, and predecessors have each celebrated the culmination of their high school journey in this traditional space, creating memories that last a lifetime. This year, disturbingly, we are being asked to shift our celebration to the lunchroom.

This move sacrifices not just a long-established tradition, but a sense of formality and grandeur that the lunchroom, a space associated with day-to-day routines, simply cannot offer. The gymnasium, vast and malleable, allows for larger gatherings and better decorations, contributing to the overall sense of occasion. Furthermore, in a study conducted by Julian Vasquez Heilig at the University of Kentucky on high school social events, it was found that students typically preferred larger, more flexible spaces for their proms, justifying our fondness for the gymnasium (Heilig, J. V. (2011). "High School Education: Social Aspects and Role of Extracurricular Activities").

Prom is an anticipated event that marks the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. This key social occasion should not be lessened by a change in venue that directly negates what has been a time-honored tradition. We ask the school administration to reconsider the change and reinstate the gymnasium as the venue for the prom banquet. Please sign this petition to support our cause.