It’s a day of liberation. It’s a Mac Miller song with an incredibly inciting music video. It’s a day accompanied by a laundry list of reasons not to participate. It’s a day of anarchy and free-spirited enjoyment.

Senior Skip Day is a tradition, surrounded by controversy, which has stood the test of time and continues to bring joy to the faces of countless college-bound students across the world. At the same time, this intentional cutting of school presents quite a few issues and certainly has its repercussions; but when it comes down to it, year after year, seniors feel the same way: Does it really matter?

Apparently, it does.

On Tuesday, June 3^rd, 2014, a large portion of the class of 2014 did not attend school, for reasons unknown. Whether or not the aforementioned students were participating in an event such as Senior Skip Day is still not confirmed, but what is known is that many students were excused from school that day and a handful were not. Whether they were at the DMV, the Orthodontist’s, Grandma’s 80^th birthday bash, or an anti-Common-Core congregation is irrelevant. All that matters is that they were supposed to be seated in class just like every other student from 7:30 until 2:16 and were not. Here’s what a few students – some who participated and some who can neither confirm nor deny that fact- and some faculty had to say about Senior Skip Day.

Assistant Principal Mr. Bookamer said, “A number of years ago, the school put into place ‘Senior Day,’ as an alternative to Senior Skip Day.” He explained, “Students should be in class, enjoying the last few days of school. I think students have a lot of privileges that are enjoyable. We have the Senior Barbeque, the prom, and I don’t really think there is a need for Senior Skip Day.” He also added, ”If there are students who are supposed to be participating in the lesson, and a large portion of the class is absent, that would be affecting their education.”

But does one 40-minute period really make that much of a difference? Evidently so. “It doesn’t look good. It reflects poorly, and you don’t want everyone here having their last memory being that the class took advantage of a cut day,” said Mr. Bookamer.

Many seniors did attend school that day, and those who did, as well as those who did not, were eager to share their opinions about this complicated subject. “I don’t think the people who did cut should face any consequences, but the people that didn’t show up missed class time that they can’t make up. That’s what they lost really. It’s a valuable class lesson that they won’t be able to make up,” responded Kyle Maddock, who did not participate in the senior festivity. When asked why he didn’t take part, he said he had numerous assignments due that day and needed to be in school.

A majority of those who missed school that day essentially felt the same way as salutatorian Aiden Kravitz, who said, “It’s only one day of school and it’s a good opportunity – outside of school – for seniors to gather together. It helps bring unify us under a sense of school spirit before graduation.”

Although it might be as simple as that for students, many teachers may feel that their time in class, which is valuable, was wasted that day. However, it is important for teachers and administration to realize, as Aiden said, “It shouldn’t have been a personal attack on anyone. It’s just an opportunity to get together outside school before we graduate and leave each other.”

Senior Tahsin Korur noted he would “rather create a beautiful memory with my friends than worry about a zero.” This mentality can be understood, as seniors are beginning to realize how quickly time flies and feel that bonding with the class is a great way to spend time together before it all comes to an end. For many, like Evan Gagne, they just “take the zero and move on— and have a good time.”

As opposed to the previous year’s seniors, the Class of 2014 chose to skip school the day following Senior Day, thus preventing any potential cancellations of the event provided by faculty and administration at Sport Time. As a repercussion for cutting, last year’s class did not have Senior Day, and the time and energy that was put into the event was wasted.

Mr. Dawson, a coordinator for Senior Day, shared his thoughts on the intentional class truancy. “For the last 15 years, I and a number of other teachers have been on the Senior Day committee. We’ve always worked to ensure that seniors had a safe alternative to the class Senior Cut Day. It’s always been enjoyable, and we found it as a nice, memorable way to spend with the class. However, the past two years, students have chosen to have their own Senior cut days in addition to this Senior day. A lot of work goes into preparing that day, and if it isn’t truly appreciated, perhaps we should rethink this notion of a Senior Day.”  This is understandable, as many teachers who do invest a great deal of time into planning this special day might see a cut day as a slap in the face.

And if you’re wondering what one of the many reasons they don’t want you to is, well just know that “teachers, parents and administrators, we’re always looking out for your safety. We all believe you deserve to come together, celebrate, and enjoy yourselves.” When asked how the cut day reflects upon students that participated, Mr. Dawson said, “Personally, I think it does show a lack of respect for the teachers and administrators who put together and organized a Senior Day. Although, I understand that there are many reasons students chose not to attend. Money could have been an issue, or maybe they just didn’t want to participate.” And with regards to this year’s class deciding to cut the day after Senior Day, he said, sarcastically, that it was “ingenious, but not really the best idea.” Better luck next year, Class of 2015.

So what’s the verdict? Is Senior Skip Day a tradition that will continue to be upheld? Is it morally wrong to miss school for a day? Are you a bad person if you did skip school? Will your teachers hate you if you miss their class? The controversy surrounding Senior Skip Day will exist as the years go on. We all make our own decisions and it is important to realize that taking a cut day can prove to be a difficult issue for administration and educators to deal with. At the end of the day, it comes down to your decision to do the ‘right thing’ and stay in school as is expected of you, or if you – just like many – would rather create a beautiful memory with your friends than worry about a zero. Are you really going to let that Physics quiz keep you? Just do what you think is right, because in reality, the choice is entirely yours.