The mock “Bachelorette” skit, part of the annual Homecoming rally, was not entirely appropriate, according to administrators, faculty and even some students. The rally took place on Friday, October 25.
Dtaff members and students usually look forward to the infrequent breaks from class to celebrate school accomplishments and inspire campus spirit, but due to the ill conceived comments made by a few of the student participants at the most recent rally, there is a concern that these events could get out of hand, according to Leadership Adviser Dino Petrocco.
At the homecoming rally, there was the typical role call for each of the grades and a cheer routine by the cheerleaders, who brought back the “Cats Are Best” song. In addition, spirit commissioners Harrison Hughes and Griffin Bell included a video feature about Powderpuff football.
Later, select students were brought down from the crowd to participate in a mock “Bachelorette” game. Principal John Walker said, “I thought the skit had potential to be fun and build spirit.”
According to Walker, as the skit progressed, some inappropriate remarks were made, including some sexual innuendoes and references to specific students’ romantic behavior. “I had some significant concerns about the comments made on dating and relationships,” he said.
Petrocco was also concerned about some of the comments made at the rally. “It’s my job to control the content of our rallies and keep it PG, and it was definitely not PG,” he said.
Petrocco also added that not all of the students demonstrated inappropriate behavior, but they did ask the ones that were involved in the skit to send apology notes to the “bachelorette.”
“Yes, I deeply regret what I said, it will never happen again,” admitted one of the boys involved in the skit.
In the apology letter, the student wrote, “I hope (the bachelorette) will forgive me and the other guys.”
Petrocco also thought that the Leadership class was concerned by the incident. “They felt that it was not our finest hour and that mistakes were made. Now we have a clearer vision of how the rally should be in the future,” he said. Petrocco feels that it was Leadership’s responsibility to control the rally, but when some of what was said went off script, things got out of hand.
Because of this, Petrocco sent an email in apology to all of the staff members about what the students said at the rally. Petrocco wrote that the skit was “offensive and mean.”
In the future, the Leadership class plans will try to control the content of the rallies more effectively. Petrocco hopes that such an incident will never happen again.
