By Tyler J. Scott ’12
THE ROUNDUP

Future school dances may look different than they used to—or at least look smaller.

In light of the heavily attended Hoopcoming dance Sat. Jan. 22, Brophy administrators amended the school dance policies.

“The main change in policy, really the only official change in policy, is that we’re going to start requiring guest passes just like every other school does, so, from now on, it will still just be one guest per Brophy student,” said Dean Mr. Jim Bopp. “If you want to bring somebody from outside you’re going to have to do the standard, have the guests fill it out, have their administration sign it, have their parents sign it, put down their emergency contact information, that type of thing. Then you’ll have to get that on file with the Dean’s office a week ahead the dance or so.”

A guest list will now be checked at the entrance to dances, according to Brophy Principal Mr. Bob Ryan.

“Nobody will be able to get into the dance unless they are with a Brophy/Xavier student or have been preapproved,” Mr. Ryan said.

Along with the new guest passes, the number of people that can attend the dance will be limited.

A specific cap was not given.

But Mr. Bopp said that Brophy and Xavier students will have priority on tickets.

The new policy changes arise from students from other schools breaking the one-to-one student-guest ratio and coming to dances without accompanying any Brophy or Xavier students.

“In the old days, we were able to get by with just having Brophy students come arm in arm with a guest … but students from other schools are showing up and trying to get in when they don’t know any Brophy or Xavier students,” Mr. Ryan said.

Last year’s Hoopcoming dance, for example, saw an explosion in attendance compared to past years because of the influx of uninvited guests, according to Mr. Jeff Glosser, Principal of student activities.

At a dance that 1,500 students usually attend at most, 2,000 students from Brophy, Xavier and schools across the valley showed up, Mr. Glosser said.

“Over 30 high schools seemed to be represented and so from that point on we started putting in parameters,” Mr. Glosser said.

The administration hopes that by setting guest guidelines, dances will be more enjoyable for Brophy and Xavier students, who the dances are really provided for.

“(The other activities) are set up for after a game or activity, people have a safe and fun environment to go to besides a party,” Mr. Glosser said. “But we want the connection to be with Brophy students so that you enter Brophy maybe only knowing a handful of students you met during summer school or maybe a handful of students you know from your old school came, you go to a game together, you have fun activities together – that’s the relationships we’re trying to help foster and help set up.”

“It’s not to set up for Brophy meeting Desert Vista, Chaparral, Notre Dame or St. Mary’s students.”

But if students should still want to bring friends from other schools, the means will be available.

“If you really want that other person to go you’ll fill out the form and get it done,” Mr. Glosser said. “Finding kids in the parking lot saying, ‘We need two Brophy students to get us in’ … that’s what we’re limiting.”