In a senior prank, marbles and beads as well as oil and live mice were spread around AHS. The oil, likely vegetable, was spilled by doorways, in the commons and smeared on teachers’ windows. Beads and marbles were poured in the hallways, which caused at least two slip-and-fall accidents. The mice were placed in teachers’ desks, with three of them being located by 10 a.m. on Wednesday. Desks and couches were moved outside of classrooms or rearranged.
Janitorial staff and teachers labored to clean up the mess, which was mostly taken care of by 8 a.m. High School Custodian Richard Smith said he “didn’t appreciate cleaning up the beads.” Smith also said that the students had taken it “too far” and that the oil spilled on the floor “crossed a line.”
“Going into teachers’ rooms is a little too far,” said history and government teacher Ben Andersen. Andersen worried that the personal and professional space of the teachers had been violated. Some students, on the other hand, did not share his concern. Freshman Kylee Wesling said, “They didn’t mean any harm,” and sophomore Callan Kleuver said, “It was very, very funny. And clever. It could’ve been better, though.”
In a statement released to staff, Principal Heather McKay said that there has been “a range of emotions, including frustration, disappointment, concern, and a sense of violation.” According to McKay’s statement, there is currently an extensive investigation into the prank with law enforcement involved. McKay said charges will be filed in relation to the prank, and that at least one student will not be able to participate in commencement activities due to their involvement. McKay statement included: “Accountability measures are continuing to be determined based on each individual’s level of involvement, honesty, and willingness to take responsibility.”
This is not AHS’s first senior prank. In past years seniors have dismantled desks, camped out in the front lawn and rode dirt bikes through the hallways. Smith said that some of these pranks have been harmless fun, especially if they were done outside. However, Smith said that this year was the worst for clean up.
The mice that were located were transferred to Hannah Misner’s science class. The three of them, named Bob, Stuart, and Bob Hope, were all placed in plastic containers. Students who were in the room at the time helped make the mice feel at home by placing bits of torn paper towels and water containers inside of the mice’s cages.
Faith Larsen, a sophomore who captured one of the mice, was even allowed to take it home. “It’s turned into a class pet,” said Misner. Multiple students visited her science class during AO or their study halls to pet Stuart and Bob. The mouse Bob Hope was originally captured in rather rough condition, but after being put next to a heater and getting plenty of water, he seemed to return to good health.
