In all the years of its history, DHS always chose to host a “closed prom.” The school’s closed prom policy means that strictly juniors and seniors that attend this school may attend, and no one else. The majority of other high schools allow juniors and seniors to go too, however these students often choose to invite a younger date that attends the school, or bring some one with them who attends a different high school. This brings the question to the table: What made DISD choose to hold a closed prom, and should this change?

An open prom allows for a better high school experience. Once students graduate, they remember their school years more fondly because more of their friends attended high school events, even though they held the title of  “underclassmen” or they attended a different high school. This also allows freshmen and sophomores to feel excitement for something rather than just watching the juniors and seniors prepare themselves for the things they get to participate in as a part of their “upperclassmen rights.”

Open prom also offers students to make more memories with a boyfriend or girlfriend, or just their best friends. A sophomore with a senior best friend will never get to experience things such as prom, or the annual powder puff game together. Certain lovesick girls and boys attending prom without their high school sweetheart don’t get to remember a favorite dance or scene while there.

On the other hand, closed proms call for less opportunities to wreak havoc. Students from rival schools arriving might cause a “who’s the better team” argument, that might quickly escalate and ruin something students paid hundreds of dollars to attend; however, this could be avoided by having waivers that require a signature and enforcing a consequence. Also, closed proms offer students something to look forward to at the end of their high school years.

DISD needs to begin to rethink and perhaps change the closed prom policy, starting with little steps. First, underclassmen with dates, and maybe eventually anyone with a date could attend the DHS prom.