It was the first day back from winter break— students idly chattered with their friends, catching up and slowly filing into the auditorium on Monday, Jan. 8, for a double PM assembly. Principal Jeremy Christian kicked off the assembly with an upbeat, energetic video showcasing Niles West and recognizing many students’ outstanding accomplishments. The assembly then took an interactive turn as volunteers donned shirts with letters on their backs, initiating a mini-game. Random participants from the crowd were chosen to run up to the stage and engage in a world scramble, eventually revealing Christian’s motto for West: “This is our house!”
Christian then took a moment to address the students about the recent issues of vandalism in boys bathrooms. Photos included in Christian’s presentation showed ceiling tiles dangling from the ceiling and broken on bathroom floors. He emphasized that this behavior would not be tolerated, and efforts were needed to maintain a positive and respectful environment. Christian noted that some members of the faculty have long called for the bathrooms to be locked, or for a one-in-one-out restriction for students using the bathrooms. Though he expressed reluctance to enforce such a plan, Christian did outline consequences for those caught engaging in vandalism, which could include a ticket and, for subsequent offense including possible arrest for criminal damage to property.
To reinforce this idea, a make-shift living room was set on stage, symbolizing Niles West as a collective home. The volunteers then intentionally trashed the scene, creating a visual representation of the consequences of what happens when students neglect the shared space. The call to action was clear: Christian wants every student to play a role in preserving the integrity of “our house.”
However, sophomore Kent Sybico was among those students who thought the assembly lost focus as Christian called attention to negative student behaviors. One slide broke down student infractions, which included inappropriate behavior, insubordination, disruption to the school environment, fights and hate speech.
“When they brought up the statistics about the negative things around the school, people around me were laughing and taking it not seriously because it was mentioned so randomly,” Sybico said. Many students also whispered speculations about who was involved in the infractions.
Overall, students felt that some aspects of the assembly were unnecessary for students to hear about.
“I genuinely thought [the assembly] should’ve just been for the guys. I don’t see girls vandalizing the bathrooms, nor have I walked into a bathroom and seen something broken in it. The rest of the assembly I also feel like it could have been fit into an email,” junior Mary Lazar said.
Before the assembly drew to a close, Director of Student Activities Caitlin Lucci presented plans for Niles West’s first-ever “Snowcoming.” A QR code was projected for students to scan, in order to receive ideas on the spirit week themes, thoughts on a “silent disco,” as well as an introduction to a sneaker ball. Not everyone was head-over-sneakers for the new concept.
“I don’t think I would go if it was a silent disco. The sneaker ball is an interesting idea,” sophomore Nikie Suryadi said.
Some students agreed with Suryadi, dismissing the idea of a silent disco.
“I don’t like the silent disco at all. I think it would feel very awkward,” Lazar agreed.
