The Senior Web tradition—which has long brought together different cliques—was postponed due to potential mental health impacts on some students.
Before the Web, Seniors were asked to pass a rock to a senior to whom they felt they owed an apology or gratitude. Then, around 12 years ago, according to Upper School Director John Schafer, the Senior Web tradition was introduced, and was aimed to encourage bonding among senior students. Today, the Senior Web is an activity which asks students to express gratitude for someone they were not close friends with. However, reactions to the Senior Web have been mixed, resulting in Senior Class Dean Justin Carunchia canceling the event during the 2023 senior retreat in Sausalito.
Carunchia said that he delayed the Senior Web was due to the lack of an available mental health advisor on the trip. “The Senior Web can be full of emotions, many of which are positive and very awesome,” Carunchia said. “But sometimes, especially with the stress of who’s getting picked, and who’s not getting picked, and who’s being picked by whom, [Adam Gelb, Carmen Borbón and myself] did not feel comfortable doing the Senior Web,” Carunchia said.
Menlo alum Riley Huddleston (‘22) said that the Senior Web was an important tradition in the bonding of her senior class. “I definitely feel like it was a part of a number of activities which got us closer as a grade,” Huddleston said.
Senior Arthi Abhyanker said that she was disappointed when she found out that the Senior Web wouldn’t happen at the retreat because she had hoped it would be an opportunity to unite the class. “My sister, who graduated in 2022, remembered it as an emotional and memorable time where she got to know a lot of people who she didn’t know,” Abhyankar said. “Not being able to experience that was definitely a letdown.”
According to Carunchia, a recent student council poll revealed that 72% of seniors would still like to do the Senior Web this year. However, disagreement persists.
Senior Rayan Rahim said that he was glad that the Senior Web was put off since it would have singled out some of the members in the grade. “I think the Senior Web makes the last few people who didn’t get picked feel really bad since they’re the ones who people didn’t think of to pick,” Rahim said. “Then people who might not know them and might not have ever talked to them are forced to make up things about them, and that’s not fair to them.”
Despite its recent cancellation, Carunchia said that he would still like to see the Senior Web return. “We hope to build and continue on with traditions as they fit the time and the space that we have,” Carunchia said. “The Senior Web is a great activity, and assuming that we have mental health counselors on board, then I definitely think we will bring it back next year,” he added.
Before the web, Seniors were asked to pass a rock to a senior whom they felt they owed an apology or gratitude towards. Then, around 12 years ago, according to Upper School Director John Schafer, the Senior Web tradition was introduced, and was aimed to encourage bonding among senior students. Today, the Senior Web is an activity which asks students to express gratitude for someone they were not close friends with. However, reactions to the Senior Web have been mixed, resulting in Senior Class Dean Justin Carunchia canceling the event during the 2023 senior retreat in Sausalito.
