Hey Day -- set up to fail

Hey Day may soon be joining the esteemed ranks of dead Penn traditions. University officials have announced that the day-long picnic and march through campus, which celebrates rising seniors, will be very different next year.

And that's a real shame.

Administrators were fed up with the outgoing senior classes' newfound passion for pelting the marchers with a range of condiments and objects. It's a valid concern, sure. Still, not only are their fears not enough of a reason to cancel the tradition, but the University's actions sent very mixed messages.

If the school was so concerned about students' behavior, why then did police officers not enforce the rules? As outgoing seniors assembled, eggs and ketchup in hand, why did they not warn students beforehand?

Instead, officials did nothing -- adding to the belief that this year's Hey Day was set up to fail. Administrators warned beforehand about possible changes if throwing continued, but then did little else to deter students.

Administrators should try much harder to work with students to save such traditions -- much as they did with Spring Fling this year, when more than 250 students signed up to participate in the FlingSafe program -- instead of simply taking away one of Penn's most popular events.

While Hey Day focuses on the incoming senior class, there must be an outlet in the festivities for graduating seniors as well. If the administration feels as though Hey Day is unsafe, help students to find safe ways to continue it -- such as giving seniors silly string or streamers to throw instead.

Many traditions have met their demise in recent decades; Hey Day should not be allowed to join that list. And taking away the official sanctioning of the tradition will only encourage more dangerous, unsanctioned behavior on and off campus.

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