Two Cleveland High Students Explain The Campaign Against Dance-Floor Groping

This month, as homecoming rolled around, there was no school dance. Here's why.

Last year, students at Portland's Cleveland High School made international news after administrators declined to hold a winter formal for the second year in a row over concerns that included dance-floor grinding. This year, students flipped the Footloose script, deciding to postpone a homecoming dance set for Oct. 13 because students reported that groping at school dances made them feel unsafe.

This week, WW talked to two seniors from Cleveland's student leadership who were part of the decision, Ashley Lytle and Carlin MacMillan, both 17. They talked about their efforts to address a school climate that has, in the past, allowed sexual harassment to persist—and the timing of their conversation amid a presidential election that has brought the subject of unwanted grabbing to the fore.

WW: How did students decide to postpone the homecoming dance?

Ashley Lytle: In leadership class, we were asked, "Are you guys going to the dance?" And most of us said no. That made our leadership teacher [Eric Mirsepassi] say, "OK, we need to look at this. Why aren't you going?" A lot of us said we didn't feel safe or comfortable going. He wanted us to have a chance to address some of the issues. The administration agreed, and they decided to give us the control over whether to have it. But we had only two weeks [until homecoming]. So we said, let's postpone it and try to address this culture and what's taking place at the dance.

How did students respond?

Carlin MacMillan: It was relatively positive. We had an announcement go out prior to our homecoming assembly saying we're postponing the dance and that it's going to be in winter. We alluded to the fact that we're going to reform it because of sexual assault, harassment and misconduct. A lot of people were in support of the fact that we were facing the issue head-on. It's a very small percentage of people who are acting irresponsibly. Most of the student body, they go there to have fun.

Has there been any negative response?

Lytle: For every negative response we've received, we've had so much more support—10 times more positive responses.

Your decision predated the most recent revelations in the presidential election of Trump's sexual misdeeds, right?

Lytle: Yes, Cleveland is really trying to address these issues this year. Freshmen are taking health classes, and these classes are talking about things related to sexual assault.

MacMillan: It's not a new conversation, but I'm glad we're taking the steps to go against it. It's there, and people know it's there, but people don't really talk about it. But it's happening, and people are uncomfortable at a school event, which is exactly what you don't want.

Do you think the comments from Trump about assaulting women are helping or hurting your discussion?

MacMillan: Helping. I think it just shows how prevalent the culture is in our society and how much of an issue it actually is. His comments definitely fuel a lot of the conversation around here.

Has his language emboldened classmates to mimic him?

Lytle: No, everything I've heard from students is against that. They can't believe this guy could be our president.

You guys have flipped roles with parents and administrators. How do you feel about that?

MacMillan: When we originally discussed it in our class, we just focused on how many people felt unsafe. We just wanted everyone to feel comfortable because it should be a really fun time. But for a lot of people, it's not.

What's your proposal for improving the homecoming dance?

Lytle: We want to address the culture of sexual assault so we want to make a video.

MacMillan: We are planning on linking the buying of tickets to watching this video. Or to buy a ticket you have to show us in some way that you understand the problem. We're also planning on increasing the number of chaperones, parents and teachers. I don't know how fun it will be at the dance itself, but I think it will really help.

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