MUDSLINGER enters its final round of the 2025-2026 school year! Opinion Editor Yarely Gaytan and Copy Editor Sirena Troutt clash for the last time. This round, it’s seniority status: should seniors get more benefits than other grades? Last time, Sirena gained a win over Editor-in-Chief Arabella Fourneau as they debated whether or not group projects are worth the hassle. This debate was overseen by surrounding members of The Auroran. Yarely is purple. Sirena is gold.
RULES:
- The debate must be kept civil (no profanity, insults, etc.)
- Attacks and responses are limited to exactly three sentences.
- Opponents must each state their argument clearly.
- Turns must be equal. Each turn will have the same number of starting statements, evidence, and/or rebuttals.
- The debate will end once a rule is broken or an editor can no longer defend their point.
- Readers will decide the winner via a poll.
- Have fun!
Seniority is, or should be, a pretty valued aspect of high school. I think it makes up for the mess of freshman year. It only makes sense that the more time you spend in high school, the more benefits you get; maybe you get more recognition or award nominations because it’s your last year, or maybe you’re favored for an extracurricular because of your status.
Get ready, I’m getting my Bible.. I do agree that, yes the more time you spend involved with something can get you recognized and give you benefits, but whether it always should or will isn’t ideal. Because, I believe that favoring seniors or anyone older because of time and experience is just not real or fair, the freshman can teach adults, just as the adults have been teaching them, God Himself said “..Don’t say ‘I am too young’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you.” (Jeremiah 1:7).
You bring up a very good point, but I think that senior year tends to also be the “one last hurrah” for a lot of people, since they’re preparing to become adults and may be largely on their own once they go to university (where, of course, they will start at the bottom of the ladder again). While they still can, seniors should be given a lot of opportunities not only to kick back and have fun, but also to get ahead in life, which can extend to what the high school can offer. For example, seniority in theatre has proven beneficial at times because it gives actors who have never really had big roles a chance to shine in their last year.
But that’s not in the best interest of the drama department. If the said senior is not actually the best fit for the role, the whole show is impacted, and takes away an opportunity for another that was a better fit. On one hand, it could be motivating to someone younger, that time of service is honored, but I would argue that it more times awards just basic years of belonging, not necessarily actual hard work, skill, or talent.
This is true, but I definitely think that the motivation offered by the idea of seniority should be enough drive for a person to improve themselves by senior year. By this logic, it shouldn’t have a negative effect on the success of the group because that moment is something a person has worked towards for years. Obviously, a senior should get the benefit here.
So since I am a senior, and you are a junior.. and I’m older and have been at this school longer… Does that mean I can just beat you up without consequence? After all, that would be a ‘benefit’ of seniority.
WHAT?! 🙁
This debate has ended due to a combination violation of Rules #1 and #2. Who do you think won? Vote for your favorite below.
That’s a wrap on the 2025-2026 MUDSLINGER season! Let us know what you thought of this series.
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