Senior Debates Through a Freshman’s Eyes

The political season is here again–for UHS, that is.  It is once again time for the senior debates.  Being only a freshman and never having heard of this UHS tradition before, things were apt to get a little confusing for me at times, what with all the hubbub and hype of the mock elections.  However, just because I’m a neophyte to this idea doesn’t mean I’m not as excited as the rest of the school.  I have heard many exceptional things about this tradition.  Trust me, the sophomores, juniors, and seniors I know have been anticipating this event since the beginning of the year, and their enthusiasm can’t help but rub off on me.  I am eager to delve further into the wonderful world of UHS government.

I (along with most of the rest of the school) had the pleasure of attending the long-awaited senior debates on Wednesday and sitting through all three periods of their allotted time.  I must say, they weren’t quite what I was expecting and I was pleasantly surprised with the efficiency and professional manner in which they ensued.  I felt very…shall we say… enlightened to the way this UHS tradition is carried out based on what I saw.  I also surprised myself by paying attention mostly the whole time, excepting of course when I was jotting down notes for extra credit.

When asked later which party I wanted to win, I gave my meticulously well-thought out answer: I don’t know.  In reality, the issue was more complex than that, for I actually thought about it a lot.  Simply put, there were many things I agreed with from each party and many things we also didn’t see eye-to-eye with.  That being said, I had a hard time deciding any one party I wanted to achieve victory.  After broaching my father on the subject, he blatantly said, “Welcome to the real world.”  I suppose this is just preparing me for a time when my vote actually counts.

Although the charming banter back and forth between the parties was amusing, I found the propaganda the most enjoyable antic of all.  It made me want to dance whenever I heard After Party’s music pumping through the basement, and I found Partyology’s classic look quaint and idyllic, but I am quite partial to that golden Pardi Gras pegasus which made me smile every time I passed it in the halls.  I feel Perseus himself would have been proud.

The friendly chatting of juniors about platforms, the enthusiastic gusto with which seniors throw themselves into the project, the witty slogans of the propaganda; I ask myself, Is this what I should expect with every passing year I spend at UHS?  If that is the case, I greatly look forward to the rest of the time I get to enjoy the debates, and I wait with bated breath for the time when I, too, one day may participate.  I feel they are a beneficial addition to any aspiring student’s agenda, especially for one who wishes to get out of class for a while.  (Not that I’m encouraging this practice.)

What will we see next: other foreign proposals regarding oil, new taxation policies, a government spending plan that actually does what it says it will?  I suppose only time and the next season of debates will tell.

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