[AXJules]

Powderpuff at GBN began in 77, when it was used as a Homecoming fundraiser on campus. In 80 it was banned b/c most of the crowd watching got too drunk and rowdy. Girls had been gettting increasingly physical so the school stopped it.

It continued to go on, underground, every May afterward. IThere is a HUGE amount of pressure to go through with it. If you've seen Dazed and Confused its really similar to that - if I remember correctly no one was physically hurt, it was just kind of demeaning stuff that the girls shrug off as "initiation."

There is an unwritten rule that no one will be injured purposely (as I said, there's usually like 1 one on one fight each year, but it doesn't take place at the event, its usually before or after.) The biggest unwritten rule is that boys are NEVER allowed to participate. They all watch and cheer it on (more degrading to the juniors) but NEVER join in. There's also an unwritten rule that if someone is bleeding, they are taken out of the game. Believe it or not every year I was at GBN these rules were followed to a T.

Everyone has a sister or friend who's been to one, and we've all seen the tapes at least once or twice at a party the weekend after.


Either way, this mob mentality present this year has NEVER been ok at Powderpuff.
Essentially, the girls show up at school Monday wearing their bruises proudly. They're like battle wounds. It means they're basically seniors, since the seniors usually graduate the week after it happens. When I first heard that powderpuff was on the news, I thought it was stupid. They know exactly what they're getting into. However, once more information came out I think the injuries are no worse than normal, but the ACTIONS aren't even comparable. They were totally inhumane.