After the controversy of Spring Jam (the casual mixer that replaced the Sadie Hawkins dance for a brief stint in the Spring of 2018), the class of 2021 could not imagine another unconventional Sadie’s. Their outrage at not having the chance to awkwardly ask a fellow freshman out and escort them to the gym was uncontrollable, and as the Spring of 2019 rolled around, the juniors made sure that every underclassmen from main hall to the FFC would be at their 70’s themed Sadie’s.
It seemed that everyone was happy returning to the conventional Sadie Hawkins dance, but turmoil was brewing in the class of ’22. As the spring of 2020 creeps nearer and nearer, the now sophomores have pulled off another Sadie switch-up and have uninvited the freshman to the dance.
Upperclassmen were bewildered. “I didn’t think anyone would change what we seemed to fix,” said Julianna Sierra ’21. “Also, I don’t understand why you wouldn’t just want the extra money.”
Sophomores, despite the harsh backlash they may be receiving from other grades, have stood steadfast in their decision. Surprisingly, many sophomores have voiced their support for Sadie’s by explaining that making it a sophomore-only event creates a new, unique aspect to sophomore year.
Ella Tomaselli ’22 explained why she supports the new change in Sadie’s attendants. “There is nothing particularly exciting about sophomore year, and I know a lot of people see it as the most boring year of high school. I think by making Sadie’s a sophomore-only event it gives sophomores something to look forward to and makes sophomore year more special.”
Tomaselli has a point. Freshman have four mixers plus Homecoming and what would have been Sadie’s worked into a busy social calendar. Sophomores on the other hand only have Homecoming and Sadie’s to look forward to, so to deny the freshmen a Sadie’s experience would not leave them void of much.
Furthermore, Sophomores look forward to bonding with their own class through a shared dance experience. Sophomore year is defined as coming into your own person by taking the introduction to high school you had freshmen year and starting to make it your own.
As Abby Skelly ’22 said, “I think it will be ok without the freshmen there. They are still trying to figure out who they are going to be in high school, and sometimes it can be a bit awkward,” going on to say, “I am just excited to be able to spend time with my friends without having to worry who else is there.”
Freshmen, however, are not pleased about the shift in Sadie’s policy. Nadia Shaaf ’23 explained that she and her friends looked forward to the dance and are disappointed that they will not get the formal Sadie’s experience, at least not this year.
“I’m pretty upset that Sadie’s is cancelled for the freshmen,” said Shaaf, who went on to explain that because there will be less people at the dance, there will be less excitement in the atmosphere. “I think the sophomores will regret voting us,” explaining that, “the dance might be dead, there just will not be enough people.”
Another aspect of the dance decision that the freshmen are upset about is that they, or more likely their student council representation, had no say in the decision. Shaaf explained this by saying, “I think it is unfair we did not have a vote in this decision, especially because the sophomores had the opportunity to go last year.”
Despite the disappointment of the freshman class, there is one positive that Shaaf highlights. “At least I don’t have to ask a boy.”
The saga of Sadie’s seems to become as much of a tradition at Ursuline as the dance itself, but hopefully both parties can come to terms with the new guidelines of the dance and enjoy the Sophomore Sadie’s.
Image courtesy of Emma Louviere ’22
