Over the past few of years, an increasingly-negative attitude towards the freshman has developed and grown in popularity. Juniors and seniors have viewed this attitude as traditional right-of-passage for underclassmen, but the behavior towards these freshmen has intensified.

At the pep rally two weeks ago, a majority of upperclassmen joined together in a chant telling the freshmen to leave. The faculty and staff responded quickly, causing Principal Steve Williams to take immediate action.

“There is a lot we have to be proud of,” Williams said. “I’m hoping (the students) will respect that I don’t like what they’ve been doing.”

During the announcements Monday, Williams notified the student body that the current behavior at pep rallies would no longer be tolerated, saying “I will do what I have to” should the behavior be repeated.

“I’m hoping the kids will take care of this for me,” Williams said. “That’s just not what Randall High is about, never was and never will be.”

Traditionally, the upperclassmen would treat the freshmen with a little “tough love,” including things like booing freshmen during Battle Cries, but according to Williams, the recent behavior has extended past this boundary. Williams said he sees this problem as an issue between classes, and he emphasizes the importance of the seniors’ actions.

“The outcome is up to the seniors,” Williams said.  “The whole year is up to the seniors, and I need them to help me out with this.”

Along with the students, it is common for visitors and parents to attend the pep rallies. While recent pep rallies have attracted a large group of visitors, Williams doesn’t think they were “bothered” by the negative behavior.

“All I want is just a big unified school,” Williams said. “That’s all it should ever be.”