the broadview
Getting
freaky
or indicator of sex. Many teens view the decision to freak dance as less crucial than the decision to participate in sex. “When you freak dance, you have your clothes on — people are just trying to have fun,” said Castillo. “It’s nothing serious.” Many dance forms that are now largely accepted were, like freak dancing, considered taboo in their respective time periods. ough the waltz, the Charleston, swing, the twist, and rock ’n’ roll would hardly be dances one would blush at today, they were each considered risqué at one point in time. To ban or censure these dance forms is unreasonable, because what was improper many years ago is now acceptable. Some people who criticize freak dancing limit their criticism to the dance form and not the trend that has led to its popularity. American teenage culture has increasingly become more sexual. Telling youth they should not participate in freak dancing is counterproductive because it defies the constant stream of sexual images youth see in the media everyday. Those who disprove of freak dancing should turn their disproval towards the cause and not the effect. e fact of the matter is that freak dancing is harmless as compared to sex. ere are no dire negative consequences, such as sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies, associated with freak dancing. Rather, freak dancing offers an outlet for teens to express their sexuality without participating in sex. So what’s the big freaking deal?
op-ed 3
I
Suggestive dancing encourages teen sex
“I’ve only seen it once at an independent school dance two years ago, when there was a girl between two boys. It was quite graphic.” Although some students assert that this kind of dancing is a form of free expression, freak dancing should be banned from elementary and high schools. is kind of behavior in a public environment, such as a school dance, should be prohibited, as freak dancing’s overtly sexual connotations oversteps the boundaries of taste and modesty. “I don’t know what [students who freak dance] are expressing,” said Gallegos. “There are plenty of ways to express yourself freely other than simulating sex.” Moreover, freak dancing, which often involves girls in compromising positions, degrades those who perform it. Freak dancing is more than just provocative — it leaves too little for the imagination. Even so, such dancing is not limited to couples — many teenagers “freak” with other teens that they may not necessarily know. is promotes a dangerously carefree attitude about intimacy and ultimately sex. e Kaiser Family Foundation survey “U.S. Teen Sexual Activity,” published in January 2005, reports 34 percent of young women become pregnant and about 4 million teens contract a sexually transmitted disease (STD) each year. Even more disturbing is the trend of younger teenagers engaging in sexual activity. e April edition of Pediatrics magazine published a recent survey revealing that one in five ninth-graders reported having oral sex, while 13 percent reported that they have had intercourse. e allure of performing something shocking, such as freak dancing, has now spread to younger people who seem too eager to “grow up.” With even preteens hitting the dance floor and freaking, the country is seeing the simulation of sex acts performed by preteens who may not have even reached puberty. Now that’s freaky. t’s done at almost every dance, when hips swivel, grind and roll — not just to the rhythm of the music — but physically against another person (or persons). Teens and even preteens vivian chau feature editor around the country are moving in a new style — “freak dancing.” “If they didn’t have clothes on,” said Marshall Peterson, principal of Oak Mills High School in Columbia, Maryland, who was quoted in e Washington Post, “you would swear [the freak dancers] were having sex.” Teenagers performing this kind of dancing, which includes hip rubbing, groping and simulated sex acts, have attracted the concern of many school administrators at select high schools that now ban such acts. “I don’t think it’s dancing,” said CES Middle Form Dean Joanna Gallegos.
Freak dancing is simply a new form of expression
F
rom music videos to high school dances, freak dancing has become a pop culture norm. Alhough people of difashly-nikkole davis ferent news editor generations denounce freak dancing for being sexually explicit, it constitutes a form of teen expression. Some view freak dancing as distasteful: however, it is not distasteful if the dancing does not cross one’s comfort boundaries. “Freak dancing is not inappropriate if you keep it to a certain level,” said freshman Lexie Forman. “It’s inappropriate when there’s too much touching and feeling or one of the people is uncomfortable.” Many who disapprove of freak dancing point to the fact that it takes place among younger as well as older students. However, many teens who participate in freak dancing agree that it is unsuitable among young students. “Freak dancing is okay with high school students, but younger than that, it is not okay,” said senior Tiffani Castillo. Some criticize freak dancing for being overtly sexual and for encouraging teens to engage in sex. While freak dancing is sexual, it is not sex; freak dancing is not necessarily a precursor
Artistic performance piece in progress
Wow, this is conceptual.
ashly-nikkole davis
news editor
Oh, I know! Freaking is so the new artistic expression.
KELLYN PLANTEEN | the broadview
Jury duty enriches life
W
Q: Should teens serve on juries?
“No, because not all teens can be as mature as the situation requires.”
— Morgan McGovern, junior
hile many will be enjoying the first few days of summer on June 6, I might be in Jury Assembly Room 007 — but I am not complaining. When I hear the words “jury duty,” I en- jetty-jane connor a&e editor vision groaning adults scheming how to get a doctor’s note in hopes of escaping the dreaded summons. Jury duty has received such a bad reputation to the extent that upon Googling “jury duty,” the first site to appear is “Jury Duty 101: Tips for Getting Out of Serving.” Granted, jury duty can serve as an inconvenience to many. Many people cannot afford the financial burden in having to stop working, for not all employers cover their employees wages during service. Yet, for those who can afford it, the excuses are few. Instead of being negative towards jury duty, we should take advantage of the opportunity to contribute to the judicial process. As citizens in a democratic society, we often take our freedoms for granted. Because I am a registered voter, I was randomly selected by computer for jury duty. I know someone who has abstained from voting for many years in order to evade being sum-
moned. (Little does he know that his scheme is not effective; you can also be selected if you have a California driver’s license.) is is a poor way to take advantage of our say in American politics. With the freedom to elect leaders also comes responsibilities, one of them being jury duty. Jury duty is not only a responsibility, but a learning experience. I can see how many would argue against my 18-year-old opinion directly affecting the defendant. But if I am considered educated enough to vote for the president or mentally prepared to fight in a war, then I am qualified to serve on a jury. Granted, it will be intimidating and I will be unfamiliar with many judicial terms. But it is still an experience worth having. According to the California Juror Web site, the bailiff, deputy or court attendant is available to answer a juror’s questions. e experience is going to force me to interact in an adult atmosphere, and it will place me in an environment that promotes my critical thinking. With the experience I will gain from serving on a jury, or even just going through the process, I am exercising my powers as a citizen, and proving to myself that I do have a voice in my society.
“It’s deciding someone’s life. It’s too much of a responsibility for teens.”
— Cindy Lo, senior
“Yes. If they’re old enough to vote, I think you’re old enough to be in a jury.”
— Christina Drobisch, freshman
“It’s not that I don’t think that teens are responsible enough, it’s that I don’t think I would be comfortable because I don’t have much experience with the law.”
— Joanna Wendel, senior