By Bridget Cook ‘14

This year, the cancellation of the biennial “Every 15 Minutes” program has disappointed many. But when considered, what is it that people wish they could experience? Viewing a horrific car accident outside of their school? Seeing the mangled, bloody faces of their peers who are “victims” in the accident? Watching someone in a Halloween costume proudly stroll the halls, “claiming” certain people for death?

“Every 15 minutes” felt much more like a theatrical horror production than an event made to raise awareness for such a grave issue. While it’s beneficial to warn students of the consequences of drunk driving, how will crudely painting their faces with white makeup and forbidding them to talk for the rest of the day accomplish that? When I experienced the program, I saw far too much stifled laughter as kids were removed from class and given a zombie makeover. Far too many people were eager to see the gory re-enactment of the accident in the parking lot. Drunk driving awareness is definitely critical for high-schoolers, but bloody dramatizations of tragic deaths should by no means be something that students excitedly anticipate.