The Rules Of Freshmental Adoption

When entering the cloak-and-dagger world we call High School, incoming Freshman are petrified and alone. They long for a friend, a mentor, a person who will extend a helping hand to lift them out of the darkness and whisper, “Hey man - I’ve been there too.” They long for . . . a Junior.

THE RULES OF FRESHMENTAL ADOPTION The tool and foundation for building better relationships within the band community created by Zach Keepers, Raphael Jose-Maria, Brandon Faulkner and Nicholas Marvin. They would love to be notified if changes are made, not to solve problems, but because they are curious.

1) A Junior, and only a Junior, may adopt one, and only one, Freshman, and only a Freshman. A Freshman may be claimed by one Junior, and a Junior may only claim one Freshman.

2) The Junior and the adopted Freshman are to share a mentor and apprentice relationship. The apprentice, the Freshman, is to abide to the Junior’s suggestions. In return the mentor, the Junior, is to guide the Freshman through his or her first year of High School.

3) Once a selection or adoption has been made, the Junior cannot trade his or her freshman for another person. Nor can the Freshman trade his or her Junior for another person (with the exception of certain circumstances, see Rule # 4)

4) A Freshman has no say in who adopts him or her. A. However, once a Junior has adopted a Freshman, the Freshman holds the power to use one, and only one, “veto” to decline or prevent that Junior from adopting him or her. After “veto”-ing a Junior, that Junior cannot adopt that Freshman (The Junior can still adopt another Freshman), and the Freshman can never veto any other Junior who decides to adopt him or her. In short, the Freshman only get one “veto” to use in a potentially troublesome situation. If a “veto” is used, a Junior will not view the Freshman in an unfavorable light, whether or not that Freshman had an apparent reason for using his or her “veto”.

B. Although the Freshman is to abide to the Junior’s suggestions, excessive use of power may invoke “Freshmental Abuse”. Then there will be a transfer of Freshman ownership. A different Junior will claim the Freshman who is being abused, and the original Junior finds himself freshman-less, and chastised among his or her peers.

5) “Open Season” describes the period of time when Freshman may be adopted by Juniors. “Open Season” takes place 2 weeks before school begins and lasts until 2 weeks afterwards. After “Open Season” ends, and only after “Open Season” ends, may the Seniors adopt any unclaimed Freshmen with the agreement and understanding that they are required to abide to “The Rules of Freshmental Adoption” as if they were Juniors.

6) The current Band Officers are considered to be the Judicial Branch, and should be consulted if a conflict arises. As long as a majority of the Officers agree, the Officers may make necessary changes, additions or deletions to these rules as they see fit.

7) There is no guarantee that there will be enough Freshman for the Juniors, or vise versa. Adoption comes on a first-comefirst-serve basis, like a buffet. 8) FOR THE LAST TIME SOPHMORES CANNOT ADOPT FRESHMAN.