by Rachelle Juan and Rosa Chung
With tissue paper and adhesive spray in hand, students from each class rolled up their sleeves and put in some elbow grease to compete for the bragging rights to this year’s best homecoming float. But after four days and 20 hours of countless sheets of tissue paper and numerous cans of adhesive spray, spray paint, and hairspray, was this week-long surge of school spirit worth the enduring environmental effects?
With the increase in school spirit this school year, attendance was no problem during float building. This year, students were eager to get involved, whether for community service hours, because of ASB mandate, or by their own account.
“I came because a lot of my friends are here and it seemed super fun and I like being involved,” says Stephanie Fillmore (10).
The camaraderie between each class ignited hot competition school-wide and prompted a huge leap in school spirit, with ticket sales at football games and the homecoming dance higher than ever.
However, as the spirited homecoming season comes to an end, its effects still linger.
“To build the floats, we use tissue paper, spray paint, PVC, lots and lots of chicken wire, and hairspray,” reports Junior Class President Lauren Wendell (11).
It is no doubt that these materials are conspicuously harmful to our environment, and some students have taken note of it.
“The tissue paper and the hairspray are definitely possible issues because of all the aerosol going into the air,” says Mariah Lopez (11). “We’re also using a lot of hairspray and spray glue that’s really bad for the environment.”
While modern aerosol spray cans no longer contain ozone-depleting CFCs, they continue to contribute to global warming. Every push of the small valve on the can raised our carbon footprint, though ever so slightly. However, ASB has attempted to decrease any harm done to our environment.
“Every Sunday after float building and the dance [ASB] always holds a float clean up,” states Sean Solis (11). “We recycle as many materials as we can and we try to save all of the materials we can use for future years.”
While minor environmental damage has been done, Del Norte has committed itself to alleviating some of the damaging effects of the time-honored homecoming float building tradition.