As the Class of 2025 enters their final year, many seniors find themselves disappointed by the lack of traditions and celebratory events that other schools often uphold. 

While some schools continue to have unique senior experiences, Urbana has chosen to let go of many popular senior traditions, leaving students feeling as though their final year lacks the excitement and recognition it deserves.

Popular traditions at other schools—such as senior quotes, painted parking spots, and the much-anticipated Senior Assassin game—are either banned or heavily restricted at Urbana, which contributes to a sense of missed opportunities and experiences among the senior class.

The End of Senior quotes

Years ago, a past principal made the executive decision to ban senior quotes, a tradition that allowed seniors to leave a personal mark in their yearbooks. While senior quotes were once an anticipated way for students to express themselves, they became a source of problems when some students used the opportunity to include offensive or inappropriate messages, ruining it for everyone.

A notable example took place in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where a yearbook featured a quote attributed to Adolf Hitler: “If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.” While the quote may appear harmless at first glance, its historical context and source led to outrage among parents, which eventually led to the ban of senior quotes at the school. 

Incidents like this have forced many schools, including Urbana, to put an end to the tradition of senior quotes. Mrs. Harikleia Robinson, Urbana’s yearbook advisor, explained the difficulties that arise from regulating senior quotes. “It’s hard to regulate [the quotes], especially if it’s something that’s trending and adults are unfamiliar with, or if they’re quoting someone inappropriate.” 

While bringing back the tradition would undoubtedly add more work for the yearbook staff, other schools have managed to navigate these challenges and still allow their seniors to include quotes in the yearbook.

When asked about the possibility of reinstating senior quotes, Robinson suggested that guidelines could be established to prevent potential issues. “Obviously, they would have to be school-appropriate,” she said. “I don’t want to say it’s required to be inspirational, but it should be something positive,” she added. 

With senior quotes seemingly off the table, there are other ways to make senior year more memorable. One tradition that has become increasingly popular at other schools is allowing seniors to paint their assigned parking spots. 

Recognize Creativity with Painted Parking Spots

Painted parking spots give seniors a chance to express themselves creatively and leave a mark on the school. It’s a fun and harmless way to add some personality to the grounds of Urbana.

Local schools like Our Lady of Good Counsel allow their seniors to paint their spots, and the results are often colorful, fun, and meaningful. It’s easy to imagine how much fun it would be for Urbana students to participate in something similar.

Gallery • 3 Photos

Unique painted spot at Good Counsel that was uploaded by Regal Paint Centers to Facebook.

When researching further, I found that other schools provide clear guidelines to ensure that the painted parking spots remain appropriate. These guidelines are typically simple: don’t paint offensive things, keep it fun while staying within the lines, but most importantly have fun. At the end of the PDF, they included a design request form where students draw out what they plan to paint; this allows for the appropriate administration to veto or accept it.

It all comes down to settling guidelines with activities like this. With careful enforcement of these guidelines, painted parking spots could become a highlight of the senior year experience at Urbana, rather than something that is banned outright.

The Cancellation of Senior Assassin

I saved the best for last though, Senior Assassin. It is perhaps the most anticipated tradition of senior year.

Senior Assassin is a tradition that started a few years back, in which high school seniors participate in a ‘senior tag’ with water guns. The game lasts for multiple weeks, each player receives opponents as the game goes on, and when you’ve tagged your target, you get a new one. The game continues until one student is left standing, and that student gets a cash prize. 

Unfortunately for Urbana seniors, this tradition has been cut short—at least on school grounds. Senior Lacy Clayton expressed her confusion, “I don’t see how a water gun looks like a gun.”

The administration worried that these brightly colored water guns could be mistaken for real firearms, leading to confusion and potential safety risks. While the distinction between a neon-colored water gun and an actual firearm seems obvious to most, the school’s concern stems from the possibility of alarming bystanders.

This issue could be avoided though, especially if the person leading Assassin came up with guidelines of what type of water gun students can carry. Guideline examples could include limiting the types of water guns allowed in the game, requiring them to be bright neon colors that are clearly distinguishable from real weapons. This simple guideline could help avoid unnecessary police calls and alleviate the concerns of teachers and parents.

Senior Bella Charoenying voiced her disappointment over the ban.

Charoenying added, “I see other schools do a lot more.” 

While the game is still allowed off school grounds, that involves a lot of planning such as finding out where your opponent works, lives, or what they do outside of school. This creates additional challenges for students, and a possible restraining order if you’re caught watching someone’s window after school.

So, as the Class of 2025 approaches the midpoint of their senior year, they are left with only a few events to look forward to, such as senior sunrise and senior sunset.  While these events provide some sense of closure, they don’t quite make up for the absence of beloved traditions like Senior Assassin…

These traditions are about more than just having fun—they are about leaving a lasting mark on their high school experience, and a core memory for their years beyond. 

With the right guidelines and a commitment to enforcement, it seems possible for Urbana to reintroduce some of these traditions. Seniors would enjoy it.

For now, though, the Class of 2025 can only hope that future seniors will have the opportunity to experience the traditions they missed out on.