Prom is right around the corner, and Lincoln Park is buzzing with excitement! This year’s theme was voted on by the student body, and they decided on “Night at the Bayou.”
Prom is set to take place on May 31 in Alumni Hall, similar to how last year’s prom ran. While students seem to love prom, there is some controversy involving ticket prices. For the past two years, prom tickets have cost $50 apiece, a controversial price. Some students believe the current prices are a scam while others consider this a fair price for the amount of ammenities provided.
“I honestly think it’s [the price of tickets] a scam, and there’s no way–it should be $25 per person. Also, I’m poor, so…” said Ella Kurschinske, a junior media major from McKees Rocks.
On the other hand, senior pre-law major Keenan Kerr finds the prices reasonable. “I think our ticket prices are actually really good. If you look at how much most other prom’s cost and what they’re giving, our cost for a ticket is actually pretty exceptional,” Kerr explained. “I think as far as, um, the amount of conveniences, like, we give out so much free food; we have all our cool events that the cost is actually really good.”
Along with the increased ticket prices, there is the controversial, intact rule that only upperclassmen can go to prom, meaning upperclassmen can’t invite underclassmen to go, even as a date. Once again, the student body finds themselves divided on this issue.
Issac Smith, a senior health science major from Pittsburgh, commented, “Yeah, I think it’s fair ’cause I don’t f**k with underclassmen, and they’re weird as f**k.”
Sofia Bueker, a junior media major from Ambridge, disagrees with the rule. “I think the rule is straight bullsh*t. I had a friend last year who was a junior, and they wanted to bring their boyfriend but couldn’t,” Bueker explained. “But upperclassmen can bring their 20-year-old boyfriends, while my friend who had a boyfriend a year younger than them couldn’t.”
Tyson Davis, a sophmore health science major from Beaver Falls, shared a similar opinion to Buecker. “I do not believe it is fair because people out of high school, like, for one year of college, are allowed to come, and I feel like if that is allowed, it should be allowed for one year under to be allowed to go as well.”
There are also complicated opinions on the theme of this year’s prom. Anya Martin, a senior writing and publishing major from Chippewa, disagrees with this year’s prom theme, having stated, “I have no idea how it won, honestly. Like, it’s fine. I’m glad it wasn’t — there was one about clouds, which I thought was really stupid. I’m glad it wasn’t that one.”
However, senior music major Makayla Sanko from Center Township represents the majority of the student body and feels positive about this year’s theme. “I’m really excited for the theme. It’s actually the one that I voted for. I just thought it was really, really pretty,” explained Sanko. “It’s not that I didn’t like the other ones. I just love the colors and, like, the vibe of this theme. So I’m very excited to see what’s in store.”
SIREN staff members Felicity Portoulas, Adrien Emler, Demarion Martin, Evie Lindgren, Ambyr Clay, Elena Cable, Veda Poling, Ravenna Rodgers, Hailey Ake, Aydden Yope also contributed to this story