LOCKPORT – With the end of the school year approaching, it is becoming common for seniors to use neon water guns along with protective eyewear. Senior Assassin: a tradition that is not recognized by the administration, but has been around for a while, has yet again become a part of the life of the Class of 2026. Since the game is independent and run solely via social media, it cannot be played within the boundaries of the school.

For those unfamiliar with the custom, Senior Assassin is a live-action elimination game where participating students are assigned a specific peer as a “target” to “assassinate” using a water gun. To stay in the game, players must spray their target before being caught by their own “assassin.” Typically, players are safe if they are wearing specific items, such as swim goggles or floaties, which adds a layer of strategy and public silliness to the daily lives of seniors. The last student remaining, or the one with the most “tags” by a certain deadline, usually wins a cash prize funded by the participants’ entry fees.

Supporters of school sponsorship claim that the inclusion of the game in the school system will remove all the dangers from the game. In the current situation, when the event lacks supervision, participants tend to run at breakneck speeds or trespass into privately owned properties in order to obtain a “tag”. In case the game is sponsored by the school, the school authorities would be able to impose stringent regulations such as prohibition of using vehicles while playing the game and obtaining signatures on safety waivers.

“A sponsorship would connect the enjoyment of students with the safety of the neighborhood,” explained Corey Rak, a senior at Lockport Township High School. “Currently, everyone just does their own thing, but if the school stepped in, there would be a better, safer way of commemorating the end of our last few months as Porters.” 

With an official sponsor, there could be a list of rules that would put safety first rather than the “Wild West” system currently in place.

However, in spite of all the positive things that may be associated with the game, there still exists a major challenge related to the perception of the game itself. In a time when safety and non-violence in schools have become some of the top concerns, the idea of creating a game with the focus on assassinations and targets is hardly acceptable from the perspective of a public school district. 

Even if using water guns, such activities are offensive considering the actual danger schools may face. This is especially relevant for a school like LTHS, which adheres to the principle of “Safety First.”

From a logistics point of view, it is imperative that liability on the part of the school district is taken into consideration. Should one of the participants have an accident involving another car or injure a bystander, then the school district would become liable for that incident. 

As of now, because the game is considered unofficial, there is nothing to worry about regarding lawsuits against the school district. Through its policy of being a non-participant, the LTHS keeps itself focused on academics and official sports games.

Ultimately, the game of Senior Assassin is still a tradition that marks the end of senior year for a lot of Porters. With school sponsorship making the prospect of order more appealing, there is no question of whether or not the game will be in students’ hands. The Class of 2026 carries on with the game of water wars through the use of goggles and neon blasters.