For seniors, one of the most exciting parts of graduation is their chords. Honor cords have been around for a long time and will not be going anywhere anytime soon. However, many seniors this year, and in years past, have had to go without in some cases.
When it comes to honor cords, they’re typically given to students to commend academic or service achievements. Some honor cords are given to showcase a student’s participation in certain organizations. For example, students who participated in the Chem Club received blue and yellow cords on graduation day.
These honor cords are given to students who are members in school-based organizations, like Chem Club, as well as nation-wide organizations such as National Honor Society (NHS).
The specific requirements for academic honor cords generally vary depending on the organization and school. At West, students in the Student Government Association (SGA) are required to have a 3.0 unweighted grade point average (GPA) and 0 discipline referrals in order to be an officer or representative.
In the case of the National Honor Society, students must be recommended rising juniors or seniors with at least a 3.75 GPA on the 4.0 scale in order to be inducted into the organization.
One prime example of this deprivation of cords would be West Johnston’s very own SGA. Duties such as choosing senior superlatives, decorating for homecoming, and curating seasonal events are just some of the tasks Senior SGA has done this school year.
Despite the fact that 44% of Senior SGA members have been committed since their freshman and sophomore years, they won’t be receiving a chord to honor all of their service.
According to the current Senior SGA adviser, Mrs. Kimberly Drown, there was a time at West Johnston where SGA seniors did receive cords.
On March 14, Co-Presidents, SGA, Sydney Fitzpatrick and Logan Harris met with Principal Swartz and asked her to reconsider her position on honor cords.
“I believe that when we tried to explain our opinion, she was quite dismissive,” shared Fitzpatrick, “Principal Swartz maintained a calm demeanor and explained her reasoning”.
When contacted with interview questions relating to her time here at West and honor cords, Dr. Swartz did not respond.
Co-president of SGA, Fitzpatrick, also expressed her feelings for future SGA members, “I feel bad for future SGA members. I know how much an honor cord means to so many students, and to be denied that honor is something that feels invalidating for how much work they put into Student Government.”
