Editor’s Note: This is the revised version of an opinion recently published and subsequently removed after it was found not to meet our editorial and publishing protocols.

Each year at Lawrence High School, two school-sponsored popularity contests–Homecoming Court and Winter Court–highlight divisions among students. While some appreciate these longstanding traditions, the system of a homecoming and winter court is outdated and does the student body a disservice–but they have the opportunity to change for the better.

In an earlier version of this piece, I argued for the courts to be abolished. This remains my stance if substantial changes aren’t made to the voting process or to the court.

While those who are nominated and vote for court mean no harm, the system itself ultimately excludes a cohort of students who are just as active in the school community as the nominees. Technically, any senior is eligible to be a candidate for court. However, in practice, only those who are popular stand a real chance of being selected. Thus, the voting process for court effectively prompts students to reinforce an existing social hierarchy.

In my original piece, I argued that students selected for courts are rarely nominated solely for academic achievement or good character. I stand by that, but I didn’t intend to suggest that they are never nominated for those things. Instead, they benefit from both their achievement and their standing in the existing social hierarchy. This leaves others, just as involved as they are, without a chance to be recognized for their achievements and leadership abilities.

Unfortunately, many students won’t fill out a ballot for courts, sort of like political abstention, because they believe there is no point, since the students they want to vote for won’t win.

This problem could be solved if teachers did the first round of voting. Many schools, including Free State High School and Baldwin High School, have turned to this solution when considering their courts. Teachers can provide a more unbiased and comprehensive view of their students and student leaders, leading to a more diverse range of the initial twelve candidates on court.

Some schools even have activity sponsors who submit a nomination for one student in their activity to compete for a spot on the court. Then, teachers discuss who their twelve will be. Either way, these both are both ideal adjustments.

Once the twelve nominees have been announced, the vote for royalty can be opened to the student body, encouraging more students overall to submit ballots. Having someone they know and support encourages more students to be engaged and participate in homecoming and winter court celebrations.

While they do provide recognition, the courts don’t currently give nominees much opportunity to make an impact on their student body and community.

The original purpose of a homecoming court was to welcome alumni who were “coming home” to their alma mater. At LHS, this is a lost part of the tradition, leaving a hole where nominees could be serving their school.

Nominees should still be able to participate in spirit week, stand on stage during their assembly, and be recognized at football and basketball games, but they should also be given the opportunity to do more for their school. While the position of court nominee is short-lived and matters most during the week before its respective football or basketball game, the position still provides nominees with a timeframe for change.

The winter court video is very fun, but court members could make an additional video that positively influences the student body. The parameters and possibly topics for such a video are loose and should be left to the court nominees to spread a message they believe in. These are the leaders that the student body voted for in the end, so they will receive a listening ear from the student body.

If the system of voting for the court and the nominee’s roles after being elected doesn’t provide true forms of service and leadership for the student body, the next best course of action is to ditch the system.

Nominee’s title should serve beyond popularity recognition and serve as a platform for sharing positive, constructive messages at LHS. Give the leaders we voted for a chance to lead.