The Williston campus was bustling more than usual last week because of the annual Spirit Week.
Some Williston students often only see spirit week as a loophole to avoiding dress code; in reality, it is much more. It is one of the memorable weeks out of the year, a time to bring the campus closer together through laughs and often outrageous looks.
Williston has always hosted spirit week in the same manner, one theme per day for five days. Whether it’s looking at the photo of the day of a spirit week outfit on “A Slice of Onion,” or communicating with your friends about your plans to show spirit for the following day, it is week full of laughs and community.
Many new students on campus who are just learning what spirit week is all about often see it as an escape from remaining in dress code. While this is technically true, as Williston permits you to dress out of dress code as long as it correlates to the theme for that given day, it is not the point of spirit week.
Ezekiel Jackson, a senior from Calgary, Alberta, enjoys the idea of a spirit week despite not even dressing up in it.
“I usually don’t partake in wearing anything related to spirit week,” Jackson said. “But there is something special about seeing people on campus wear funny outfits, it gives a fun landscape for the Williston community.”
Zeke said spirit week can act as a catalyst for bringing the community together through humor.
“It makes people laugh together, and the funny outfits bring a smile to everyone’s face,” Zeke added.
Zeke is not the only one who believes spirit week is healthy for keeping a tight Williston community. Jordyn Osorio, a four year Williston senior from Newark, N.J., believes spirit week can connect kids together through exposition of each students hobbies an interests.
“It is a good way to express yourself, not only your fashion taste, but also your interests,” Osorio said. “For example, if I dress up as Spiderman for celebrity day, than it reveals that I am interested in Spiderman. And others could connect with me that have the same interests.”
Jordyn also believes that the creativity aspect of spirit week should not go unnoticed, both for the students who participate and those who come up with the themes.
“I believe it is special because it shows the creativity of the student,” Jordyn said. “It is also shows creativity in the students who created the topics. Both the students outfits and the council are creative.”
Spirit week would not be possible without the work of the student council. They are involved in planning the week ahead of time by picking the themes and coordinating their plans with the Deans’ office. And the work each year is not repetitive, as themes from previous years have been vetoed and replaced. For example, the twin theme from last year—a day to dress up in the same outfit with a friend—was replaced with senior dress up as old person day this year.
But why even have a Spirit Week? Why not just have other school spirit activities that don’t involve thematic days or dressing up? Jack Nolan, a three year senior from Scottsdale, AZ, is currently a class representative in the student council. He believes school activities are an important piece to building school culture.
“Without them, the great culture of Williston wouldn’t be where it is.”
Jack believes that it is spirit week’s length that gives it this cultural power.
“Spirit week is the only longer term school event where the school participates together. While attending sports games or doing weekend round up activities are good for culture, it usually happens in one night,” Jack said. “Spirit week brings the community together through a week, not just one day, making a longer lasting impact on Williston’s culture.”
