By Maddi Bourgerie
<[email protected]>

With prom this weekend, some are frantically getting together the last-minute details before the big night on Saturday. However, there are also many like junior Bailey Hillis, who have opted out of attending prom this year. Hillis’s reason? She doesn’t have a date, and for her, that’s a key component of the prom experience.

“I don’t plan on attending prom unless I get asked,” Hillis said.

“Prom is very over-rated,” she added. “It makes people feel, who don’t have a date, really bad about themselves because it’s such a big deal when you’re asked. When you don’t get asked it really lowers self-esteem.”

Prom sponsor Maureen Borto said the concept of having to go to the event as a couple is old fashioned, and that’s one reason why this year the ticket sales have altered from last year.

“We changed the selling of tickets this year. They are $35 and all individual tickets, and no discount couple packages,” Borto said.

One main reason for this change, Borto said, was so studProxy-Connection: keep-alive
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ts didn’t feel obligated to attend as a couple. She said it also may encourage more people to attend in groups.

Still, despite these measures, Hillis said she still feels pressure by the social norm to find a date and to not go stag.

“I am really passionate about having to find a date to attend prom,” she said. “For Homecoming, people go in a group, but prom is different. It’s much more of a date thing. If I was going to go alone, everyone would be paired up and there would be no one to dance with. I would feel very awkward.”

Senior Fred Boyd is in a similar situation to Hillis; he too doesn’t have a date to prom, but unlike Hillis, this was by choice. Boyd decided to attend prom with a group of friends.

“I chose to go stag,” he said, “I have been worrying about my studies and have been too busy to find a date, but I don’t mind.”

Boyd said he is comfortable going by himself. “No one should be insecure about not having a date. The whole thing is just for fun,” he said.

According to Borto, about 1,300 people attended prom last year, and, in fact, many came in large groups.

“I couldn’t even identify which were coupled up or not. The ones who are not attending prom are missing out. Not having a date is not an excuse. Prom is for the memories, getting dressed up, taking pictures, dancing and having a great time. It’s not about who you go with,” Borto said.

Boyd said he agreed. He said, “No need for a date. Going stag is just as fun. Having a date is not as taboo as it used to be. Going in a group will be a good time, if not more.”