Glendale High School Explosion Opinion Friday, November 8, 2013 3 What Do You Think? What do you think about extravagant Homecoming proposals? “In the end, if it all goes well, it’s a nice thing to do and it leaves you with some high school memories.” Matthew Rayco Junior “I like the idea that someone would go all out in asking that special person, but I think it all depends on the taste of the person asked.” Cassandra Amezquita Sophomore “I think it’s cute and thoughtful because it takes so much effort for them to do it. It sets them apart from everyone else and makes them feel special.” “I think Homecoming proposals are supposed to be romantic but not too over-the-top. They should be special because it’s a big part of the high school experience.” Renee Paladini Freshman Meri Palasanian Senior “I think it’s a good idea since it makes the girl feel special and is gentlemanly.” Dominic Scharrer Freshman Christina Bunggo and Joshua Bote “When a guy asks a girl, the girl is forced to say yes because everyone’s watching and she doesn’t want to embarrass the guy if she rejects him.” Joseph De Leon Senior Explosion Glendale High School The Staff believes it is our duty to report campus news, to inform students of affairs in the surrounding community and world, to explore issues, and to offer constructive criticism where necessary. By-lined articles reflect the views of the writer, while editorials reflect the majority opinion of the editorial board. Explosion welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed and in good taste. We reserve the right to edit for space or clarity. Advertisements contained in this publication do not reflect the endorsement of such products or services by Explosion, Glendale High School, or the Glendale Unified School District. Explosion is published seven times during the school year by the production journalism staff of Glendale High School, 1440 East Broadway, Glendale, California 91205, (818) 242-3161, ext. 6110, Fax- (818) 244-6309, under the auspices of the Glendale Unified School District. Explosion is printed at News Publishers’ Press, Glendale, California and is in its 98th year of publication. Adviser Mr. Lancaster can be reached at plancaster@gusd.net. 2013-2014 Explosion Staff Editor-in-Chief Logan Ortiz News Editors Nshan Elexan Lala Nikola Opinion Editor Grace Park Royalty Editor Christina Bunggo Entertainment Editors Joshua Bote Sydney Sanchez Sports Editors Andrea Patino Vard Sargsyan Copy Editors Joshua Bote Andrea Patino Staff Reporters Staff Photographers Joshua Bote Christina Bunggo Nshan Elexan Lala Nikola Shushanna Petrosyan Adviser Patrick Lancaster Ashley Alexander, Sean Arnone, Alicia Deyta, Kajari Ghazari, Kaylee Mercado, Shushanna Petrosyan, Elmira Tofanyan Yes (wo)men In an ideal universe, the guy gets his dream girl. He makes some heartwarming, sincere proclamation in hopes that the girl will finally say yes to go on a date with him. The guy devoted so much time and effort to create this romantic gesture. Of course the girl should say yes! Right? Over the course of the past month, we’ve witnessed guys all over campus making these grandiose, affectionate proposals to girls, asking them to be their date to the homecoming dance. For the most part, it’s well-intentioned. Balloons and giant posters and hordes of people circling the lucky couple – it’s all fun and lighthearted, even a bit endearing if the two involved are in a committed relationship. But this ideal notion is a rarity. There’s a certain expectation for a guy to pull off a grand gesture for a girl to say yes to him for homecoming, which, in itself, is unfair. Guys have to put in a remarkable amount of effort for a single chance to get the girl of their choice to say yes. Proposals have mutated into a competition to see which guy can devise the most creative, well thought-out scheme to get a girl to say yes. It all feels so clichéd, so insincere, as if their sole intent is to one-up each other. Who says romance isn’t dead in the 21st century? However, the biggest injustice lies within the expectation that a girl must agree to go to homecoming if she’s asked. Too often, when we hear discussions regarding these sorts of failed proposal mishaps, the guy is portrayed as a saintly soul and the girl is cast off as a coldhearted prude. But a guy can’t simply expect a girl to say yes just because he devised an exorbitant scheme to ask her out to homecoming. For anyone to project that expectation on an unsuspecting girl is ludicrous. Girls, more often than not, say yes to these unwarranted situations solely because they’re pressured by the surrounding masses of people who are expectantly waiting for her to say the magic word. She’s essentially coerced into saying yes. What other choice would she have? By saying no on the spot, she comes off as snooty and unappreciative. By saying no after having already said yes, she’s perceived as clearly leading on the hopeful fellow. Why would she put up with all of the school-wide criticism and gossip that comes with rejection? Somehow, this double-standard has become the norm. The guys had the opportunity to pick which girl they wanted to ask for homecoming. Therefore, the inverse should be true as well. Shouldn’t the girl have the opportunity to reject an unwanted homecoming proposal? Can we even go so far as to suggest the concept that a girl can ask a guy out to homecoming? Perhaps we’ve become progressive enough in the 21st century that we no longer need to conform to the standard gender roles for homecoming proposals. But, no matter what, a girl’s decision to reject a homecoming proposal should not be invalidated. Their opinions and decisions should be treated with as much respect and validity as the guy’s decision to ask her to homecoming in the first place. That’s our kind of ideal universe. Joshua Bote is the entertainment editor for Explosion. Christina Bunggo is the feature editor for Explosion.