12
Oct. 25
the trojan Bluestreak
trojan nite edition
Back When it Began
Student council creates Trojan Nite idea
For the past 45 years Trojan Nite has been one of the biggest and best
traditions at Andover High School. The event has changed some throughout the years, but for the most part it has maintained its original form.
Farris Razook was Andover’s principal during the time Trojan Nite
started. He began working at Andover in 1963 and retired in 1983.
“Trojan Nite was a great success,” Razook said. “It’s the best thing that
ever happened to Andover.”
The idea started with a group of student council students and their
need to have some type of fall spirit night. They really wanted to have a
competition of some sort where each class competed against each other.
Somehow, the topic of Trojans came up. Then they started talking
about gladiators and the Olympics. The whole discussion soon evolved
into what we know today as Trojan Nite.
Razook gave the final OK on decisions involving Trojan Nite, but he
said he left most of the decisions up to the student council and was very
supportive of the whole idea.
“Student council sponsor Mary Chase did a lot,” Razook said. “She
definitely did way more than I did.”
Mary Chase was as English teacher at the high school, as well as the
student council sponsor. She oversaw the student council and was very
supportive of the idea of Trojan Nite.
Senior class president Rebecca Biethman was another person who attended the important meeting where Trojan Nite originated. Many knew
her as “Becky Brown” back then. She graduated from Andover in 1967
and now lives in Illinois.
“We really wanted some type of event where we could all just have
some fun,” Biethman said.
Biethman was also a big fan of sponsor Chase. She saw her as a role
model and really looked up to her.
“She really had a heart for kids,” Biethman said. “She’s the reason I
went to college. Mrs. Chase pushed me, and I’ve had a very successful life
because of her.”
Many of the Trojan Nite events and rules are exactly same as they use
to be, according to Biethman. Students nominated and voted on which
athletes they wanted to represent their class. They built their own floats
> From the 1969
year book, the
winners pose for
a picture. The
senior class are
dressed in costumes similar to
the costumes we
make today.
and made their own costumes, as well.
Back in 1967 the floats we know today were called chariots. Students
especially enjoyed getting to build their own chariots. It was the most
popular part of Trojan Nite at the time.
“I just remember we all used a lot of cardboard and crate paper,”
Biethman said.
Most of the students who attended the school in the year 1967 were
very involved in Trojan Nite.
“It became a big deal very fast,” Biethman said.
In the history of Trojan Nite, the event has only ever been canceled
one year, and that was the year 1978. Cindy Stout was the senior class
president at the time.
“There were some issues with one of the classes stealing wood from
other classes and businesses,” Stout said.
Razook, who was still principal, and the superintendent met with
Stout and a few other student council members to discuss the repercussions. It was decided that Trojan Nite would be canceled, and Stout had
to relay the news.
“People were upset, but it was their own fault,” Stout said. “They
weren’t for sure exactly who did it, so everyone had to be punished.”
Throughout the past four decades, the evening didn’t change much.
When Bob Baier became principal in 1997, he was somewhat skeptical
about Trojan Nite until he saw it for himself.
“I sat with the parents and observed the whole thing,” Baier said. “I
realized it was a great thing, though.”
When Baier arrived he did have to make some adjustments. He realized he wanted to make the events less physical.
“We had to calm it down some,” Baier said.
Both Baier and Razook have an important opinion in common, and
it’s that Trojan Nite is a great thing for not only the students but the community.
“If they ever decided to cancel it it would be a huge mistake,” Razook
said. “It really brings the school together. I think everyone should attend”.
-ashliELLERMAN
> In 1969, the seniors are showing off
their float at Trojan
Nite. This was only
the 3rd year of Trojan
Nite.