October,2023
By Mariela Rico and Marisol Palomo, Staff Reporters
At Kipp Austin Collegiate, the class of 2024 has been discussing how they have been affected by the new gym floors.
Ever since we got new gym floors, there have been a lot of negative impacts, one of them being seniors not being able to take their TSI test in the gym and being told at the last minute to test in classrooms. This was due to the fact that tables and chairs would scratch and make dents on the floors. Students were worried because there was speculation, they would not be able to sit on the bleachers during the Pep Rally. Fortunately, at the last-minute administration decided to allow seniors to sit on the pep rally and they won the spirit stick.
Lissette Reyna, senior vice president, spoke to The Cardinal Post about this topic. *This was edited for clarity*
The Cardinal Post: What do you think about the new gym floors, and do you think they have made an impact so far?
Lisette: I really like the idea that our school has been able to put money into the actual building. As of now, I’ve heard there have been concerns about first Friday events, even testing events like TSI exams. I just really hope it doesn’t become a problem.
The Cardinal Post: What do you think about the possibility of not having the bleachers on special occasions? Do you think it’s unfair for seniors?
Lisette: Yes, I think it’s unfair for seniors because seniors’ kind of live up to that moment and look forward to it. Lower classmates have a standard that one day there are going to be seniors and sit on those bleachers, and if we are not able to have them, it will kind of take an opportunity and a memory away, not just for current seniors but for upcoming ones as well.
The Cardinal Post: Do you believe there will be a solution to this controversial topic, and what would it be?
Lisette: I think, being realistic, the only solution will be to fix the gym floors, but I do realize that it won’t make sense to change them since the school invested a lot of money, and why take them off? I think the best solution would be to be more careful about what kind of things we put into the school.
The Cardinal Post: Do you consider being on the bleachers a tradition for seniors?
Lisette: Yes, one hundred percent, I consider having the bleachers a tradition. Since we moved into this new campus, every senior will get the opportunity to be on top of the bleachers, and everyone knew that was the senior spot, making it very memorable.
The Cardinal Post: Do you believe senior class officers should advocate and do something about this situation?
Lisette: Yes, I think the students who have a higher voice or connections to the staff of the school, it’s kind of our job to advocate for these types of things because, at the end of the day, we are representing the student class, and if anything, we will be heard more, making it more powerful.
The Cardinal Post: Do you think future seniors will be affected if there are no bleachers for the class of 2024?
Lisette: Yes, I think speaking personally as a senior, the thought of not having the bleachers makes me kind of upset, and I think for future seniors as well since its not only affecting our senior class; it’s also known by freshmens, sophomores, and juniors that KAC has been having those bleachers for seniors, so i think it will have a major affect
The Cardinal Post would like to say thank you to Lisette for her time and her patience.
The Cardinal Post 