By Dylan Fair
Staff Writer
The Mira Costa administration is instituting intensified security to prevent drug use at this year’s Prom, in response to a group of students who were caught using drugs last year and recent discipline issues among students, according to administrators.
As part of this new policy, security will screen all buses and transportation upon entry to the grounds, including mandatory Breathalyzer tests for all people entering the theater.
“Recent developments, as well as Prom’s issues last year, have made myself and the staff nervous for this year’s Prom,” Principal Ben Dale said. “I am very disappointed because certain students on campus are projecting the stereotype that people outside of Mira Costa have about us. For that reason, security will be highly increased this year.”
Consequences for violating school policies have also been heightened for this year’s Prom. Staff members will enter the buses, and, if any suspicions arise, the school resources officer will be called over to investigate.
According to the administration, if the SRO confirms any illicit behavior on a bus or other vehicle, the students under the influence on the bus will receive a five-day suspension. In addition, the bus and all students on it will be sent home and have their parents notified. Seniors will not walk at graduation, and students from other grades will not be permitted to attend next year’s Prom if intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.
“I think this security increase is probably more about deterring potential illegal activities and less about actually catching them in the act at Prom,” senior Levi Schoenfeld said. “People are less likely to do drugs if they know they will be punished severely.”
Although some students do not mind the new policy, many students believe that this policy is too stringent and may not deter those possibly breaking the rules.
“I think it’s unfair that you could get punished just because somebody else in your bus did something wrong,” junior Talia Bondelli said.
In addition to the administration’s new policy, Student Government announced on May 6 that Prom will be held at the The Globe Theater at Universal Studios, which has been reserved since 2009. The building is composed of pieces from multiple former movie sets, including a set of a vintage Parisian street.
“We all thought it was a really awesome idea to take one scene and blow it up to an entire theme,” junior class President Mackenzie Austin said. “What makes this Prom really interesting is everything doesn’t have to directly correlate, as the theme is a Parisian party, but you can also take a trip to a ‘50s diner.”
Student Government also hopes to utilize the high profile venue to bring more variety to this year’s Prom and promote activities other than dancing and photo booths. Some unique options that SG wishes to include this year are the use of stilt walkers, as well as Parisian mimes.
“I’m sure that everyone who attends and abides by the new security will have a great time,” sophomore Sawyer Fuller said.
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