High School Prom Threatened by Filibuster

Usually the social event of the year at Rutherford B. Hayes High School in Henderson, Nevada, this year’s prom may not occur because of a filibuster being led in the student council by senior Reed Harrison. Harrison, along with 14 other students on the 35-member council, supports his friend James Parker–Spanish club president and “all-around great guy”–as prom king, but soccer team captain Clayton West has the support of the other 20 council members. “It’s just not right,” says Harrison. “We’re not going to allow the council president and his cronies to push through another jock as prom king. We are going to stand up for our rights as the minority on the student council.”
Those who support West say this is not the first time Harrison has done this sort of thing. Fellow student Andrew Davis remembered, “Once when we were in third grade, we got together in the park to play kickball, but Reed wanted to play dodgeball. We argued for a long time, and finally Reed was just like, ‘Fine, play kickball, but you’ll have to find another ball,’ and he takes his ball and goes home. Can you believe that? What a cliché!”
The problem started brewing a month ago when both Parker and West were nominated for prom king, and West appeared to have enough support to win. Harrison was unhappy, and then a revelation came to him during his civics class. “Mr. Sullivan was telling us about filibusters in the Senate,” said student Maryann Gonzales, “and I looked at Reed and his eyes just lit up. I had a feeling there was trouble coming.”
Some students were already preparing alternate arrangements in case the prom does not happen. “We’re going to party in my uncle’s basement and get wasted on the case of Smirnoff Ice he bought for us,” said a student who wished not to be identified. “That was pretty much the part of prom we were looking forward to, anyway.”
(In homage to Scott Ott of Scrappleface)