Traditions transform a building into a community. They root us to our past and illuminate our future. 

Throughout Fairview’s history, senior traditions have evolved and shifted. From a global pandemic to cultural changes, a range of factors have eradicated many of these traditions.

 “COVID took a lot away…[Some traditions lost] were the senior class slideshow, where you’d all get together and submit pictures… and right before graduation, or during graduation, [you would watch it.] The senior class trip is gone…we would go to baseball games or Boondocks or all sorts of fun things” said social studies teacher Darrell Billington. Billington is a Fairview alumnus who has taught at the school for over 20 years.

Technology is also a large culprit in shifting senior traditions. “The pranks are also gone, but that’s [because] you guys get in way too much trouble, and there are so many cameras…So a good combination of technology and COVID [removed senior traditions,]” Billington added.

Despite the light-hearted traditions lost, Billington notes that some traditions, like hazing, are better left in the past. 

“My generation took things way too far…Lawsuits have stopped a lot of it, and safety and [stopping] hazing and acceptance…is a really a good thing,” said Billington.

Last year, the Senior Stampede controversially became the newest addition to the senior tradition graveyard. The Senior Stampede consisted of graduating seniors sprinting down the Fairview hallway on their last day. 

After the senior class of 2023’s stampede, Fairview’s administration decided that this tradition was too dangerous, and replaced it with a Senior Fiesta for the senior class of 2023. During the Fiesta, the administration brought in a large police presence to prevent any stampede attempts. 

Many students were upset and frustrated with the decision to have such a large police presence within Fairview at a time marked by school violence and national police brutality controversies. 

“Especially in this present moment, there’s a weird feeling having police, anything…with guns in a school. There’s definitely gonna be people that are uncomfortable with that,” said Stryder Jones (12). “There might be some rotten apples that might wanna do something and we need the police, but most of us just want to be free and out of this school,” he added.

“[The police presence last year] made me feel much more unsafe. It made me feel like I was in an environment that I didn’t want to be in. It felt like an overreaction, and it made me feel like if they are going to overreact to that, what else are they going to overreact to?” said Koby Horowitz (12). “ If it happens again I’m going to be very disappointed with the administration… [and] upset that this is the way I have to exit my high school career and my time at Fairview,” he added. 

Student Council and student body leaders note that they have brought this student feedback to the administration. 

“[In] a meeting [with administration] at the beginning of this year…I very directly took a quote that one of my friends had told me about the police presence at school and how they did not feel comfortable whatsoever and how upset people were… I was just honestly quite blunt with the administration telling them that it was not ok what they had done last year,” said Student Body Vice President Leela Newton (12).

“We are taking these student voices and we are bringing them to administration and using them as our kind of ammo, being like ‘hey, this is why we didn’t like this and this is why many people feel uncomfortable,’” said  Student Body President Carder Squirrel (12).

Newton emphasized the importance of this student feedback.

“Hearing student experiences is really valuable to emphasize the impact of certain actions that the administration is taking and how they are gonna affect the student body…It’s important to really hear student voices, to understand and improve in the future,” said Newton.

Newton and Squirrel stated that currently, Boulder Police presence won’t be a part of efforts to stop a stampede this year.

“It seems like currently, boulder police presence isn’t really on the table, and at most just district security,” said Squirrel. 

“Because of our meeting that we had earlier this year, we put our foot down pretty firmly, with the student experiences that we had shared with administration, saying that ‘this really can’t happen again,’” added Newton. 

When asked about the school’s plans for police presence for this year, Assistant Principal Ross Sutter stated, “As always, we are dedicated to keeping our Castle a safe, respectful, inclusive, kind, and fun.”

Due to the removal of the stampede, and the many traditions lost over the years and through Covid, some students feel there aren’t enough senior traditions for the class of 2025.

“I feel like [there’s] not really [enough senior traditions]… I always thought that being a senior would be special, and you would feel like you made it, and it just kind of feels the exact same,” said Giada Haskins (12). “Our grade is just very divided. So maybe more events from the school would make us come together more,” she added.

However, other students feel that out-of-school traditions have sufficiently replaced the lost in-school traditions.

“Senior assassin was so much fun… I’m sure prom is going to be a blast and then just hanging out with friends… A lot of the ones we did this year were unofficial ones,” said Horowitz. “I’m not sure [why that is]. It could be administration and it could be that kids like doing things out of school more often to hang out and collaborate with their community.”

Squirrel stated that Student Council is trying to place emphasis on new and existing traditions in lieu of previously lost activities.

“One of the biggest ways that we’re trying to preserve a lot of traditions is working with administration. We know that there’s a lot of issues surrounding the senior stampede, and similar traditions that have been cut, and…we’re trying to build more emphasis on senior sunset and senior sendoff after graduation rehearsal,” said Squirrel. “Although we’re losing some, we’re trying to reinforce the ones we currently have and start some new ones so we have fun stuff for seniors at the end of the year.” 

This year, to replace the Fiesta, Student Council is planning a senior picnic after graduation rehearsal. Evy Huttner (11), the lead planner for the picnic, stated that it will include food, pizza, yard games, and possibly a Slip N’ Slide.

Sutter also highlighted current traditions still in place, like Senior Sunrise and Sunset, in addition to the new picnic. 

“Our Fairview Parent Organization… has generously arranged for an In-N-Out food truck and some other fun surprises [for Senior Sunrise],” said Sutter.  He also referenced the Knight of Excellence Award Ceremony and the Car Parade.

While creating new traditions is difficult, this power to weave new aspects into the fabric of Fairivew is still in the hands of students. 

“It’s hard to come up with new traditions. Because then they are not traditions, you’re trying to start something…[But] I think you guys could create and do more,” said Billington.