Photo Credit: Stephanie Sabatini

Public displays of affection can range from
holding hands and high fives to making out and heavy petting. So, where do we draw the
line?

Any student, faculty member, or visitor to M-A can
see couples smashed up against the walls, and boys
and girls walking with absolutely no personal bubble
between them. When asked about their opinions on
the outward displays of affection that go on at school,
the response was two-sided. Teachers and students
that do not participate in PDA were equally disgusted,
indignant, and uncomfortable.

Lauren Diller, a sophomore here at M-A, was
quoted saying, “They should all just get a room!”

Junior Clemence Parmentier is among
those students who do not mind public
displays of affection. “I don’t think it’s
awkward,” she says, “people should mind
their own business because, it’s just, like, natural
for us to be displaying our affection with someone.”

Sophomore Michael Hester takes the middle ground
saying, “I don’t care as long as tongues stay in the
mouth.”

There are stories all over the news of schools buckling
down on rules about public displays of affection, and
by looking at our handbook, it would appear that M-A
is no different. The handbook states that, “Excessive
displays of affection are inappropriate on school
grounds or at school-sponsored activities.  Excessive
refers to kissing, petting, and other physical
demonstrations considered to be inappropriate
when conducted in public.” Although it seems
like these rules would be enough to restrict
students from getting too hot and heavy in the
hallways, a simple stroll through Pride Hall
would quickly disprove that assumption.

When asked about the rules pertaining to PDA at
M-A, the school’s new Dean of Students, Sean Priest,
commented on the administration’s main method of
restricting excessive displays of affection. He says
simply asking them to stop normally does the job,
because “it generally kills the mood.”