By Kaleah and Sameh
Everybody, the rumor is true, music is coming back to our football games! The rumor has been flying around campus all week and Mr. Shin finally announced the big news that we’d be having music at Cowhide during the assembly Friday morning. Music made a comeback for Cowhide and will stay for the rest of our games from now on.
Principal Shin said, “I just felt like that sometimes in education, we make decisions that we think might be for the best but don’t work out as well as we think. A decision was made last spring by the principals of the four high schools and I just felt like that this was a decision that affected us negatively at Redwood. I’m about doing what’s right for our students, our staff, our school, and our parents. Not having music at the games was not benefiting our school, so I decided to bring it back for Cowhide. We’re going to have it before the game, and bits during the game, I still don’t want to take away from what the band is doing. Moving forward, we’re going to have music back at all games. Looking at the games before the music was taken away compared to after, I noticed a significant drop in school spirit, it being quiet and dead out there.“
“I’ve already talked to the other principals at the schools and they know what I’m doing, I think the backlash will come from the students at the other schools and parents but it’s a school by school decision and basis. It’s not a VUSD decision. Since I’m in charge of this school, it’s my decision.” Mr. Shin said that the final straw was seeing parents sitting in the student section at the last home game. He felt this action was all his fault and knew there were things that needed to be done. Adults make mistakes but are willing to change and do things to fix it. It was a teachable situation but a learning experience for Mr. Shin.
Assistant Principal, Mr. Marroquin, said that Mr. Shin’s decision to bring music back was a great compromise. “I know how valuable music is to pump people up. I’m a big hip hop guy so I understand why the kids need it. Music at Cowhide is a must!”
Even though many other schools fought over this situation through social media and backlash towards ASB, Redwood celebrated Shin’s decision and the turnout was great at this year’s Cowhide. The game’s energy returned to how it was prior years maybe even better!
Jacqueline Marquez, ‘22, a band student thought that the DJ and the band playing together truly felt like a high school football game. When asked how do you feel about music coming back Marquez said, “I was so stoked about having the DJ back it really gives the crowd a sense of togetherness.” Without the music Marquez feels like the game just felt quiet and nothing to dance or sing to.
Allure Palomar, ‘21, feels that the music brought everyone strongly together. Palomar believed not having music was a problem because it was the one thing students related to. She said, “It was the one thing we could all stand up and scream to the top of our lungs the lyrics together.” Palomar believes that its more than music, it’s the effect behind each song that plays.
Myra Black, ‘21, found it a problem when students would not go to the games because there was no music. She feels with no music came no Redwood spirit. Black was really pumped for the music “It’s something we can all dance and sing along too. Music also helps getting not only the student section hyped but the football players, they feed off the student section and it’s always great for them to see all of us cheering them on in the stands.”
Ryan Pilgrim ‘19 was really excited to hear music was going to come back, even if it was for this one game. Pilgram stated, “ Not having music was a problem because we all connected through the music.You don’t have to be friends or even know the people around you. With music you’re all able to get hyped together.” You build a connection with the people around you.
Music is back for good and our Ranger pride is back on track. Special thanks to Mr. Shin for listening to us students. From now on, our games will be filled with music and the stands filled with students supporting our Rangers!
Tags: cowhide, DJ, friday night lights, journalism, music at football games, redwood gigantea, redwood high school