Prom and homecoming dances have been a part of American culture since the early twentieth century, according to PBS’s WHYY. Though the first recorded prom, held in 1884 at Smith College, may have looked different than LASA’s, which was held April 5 at the Bob Bullock museum, much of the traditions remain the same: Long dresses, spiffed-up suits, dancing, punch, shouted conversations, and, the prom court, to name a few. However, as we move further into the 21st century, even the typical prom court ritual of having a queen and a king is changing.

In recent years, LASA has gotten rid of gender requirements for prom and homecoming court, which has led to a court of only boys such as in the most recent prom. Emiliano Moreno is a junior, and he said that having a genderless prom court is not a bad change. 

 “I feel keeping it gender neutral is always a good thing,” Moreno said.

Although he was ambivalent to the actual rule change, the new trends are less appreciated by female counterparts. Lyra Siano is a junior, and she believes that a court of only boys was not a good outcome. 

“I think the fact that there [were] all guys … was kind of lame,” Siano said. 

Carys DeCrane is a senior, and she agreed that she found the all-boys court to be lame; however, she was comparably less concerned about the change. According to her, although the change to a court of only boys is disappointing to some, it still remains true to the spirit of LASA as it reflects what people find funny.

“It’s annoying, but it’s reflective of who people find funny, not really about popularity,” DeCrane said. 

For DeCrane and Moreno, the fact that the court did not contain any women was overpowered by the hilarity of LASA Senior Mills Hullum, a winner of the senior prom court. Moreno described Hullum as his inspiration, while DeCrane appreciated his hilarity. 

“Prom Court is about who is iconic and funny,” DeCrane said. “Mills wore sparkly spandex and tearaway pants, so he deserved it”. 

While both Moreno, Siano, and DeCrane found the prom court to be entertaining, Moreno remarked that girls, more so than boys, seem to have a problem with not having women on the court. He stated that while he did not find it to be an issue, it was important for women to express their own opinion. 

“The prom court being all guys, I feel like it doesn’t really matter,” Moreno said. “As a man, I have no problem, [but women] probably need to give their own opinion.”

According to junior Rebecca Van Bavel, having a genderless court is not an issue, but rather, a positive, as the gendered expectations are not pushed onto the nominees. Despite this, the all-boys court is disheartening for some. 

“I think the gender equality is good; that we’re not forcing our homecoming court into, like, a guy and a girl,” Van Bavel said. “I also think it’s sad that it’s been all guys this whole time.”