The first assembly at a new school is seen by many as a first impression of how the school year will pan out. The school is expected to don itself with purple and gold ribbons, shine its hallways and floors to glimmering perfection and give off an overall feeling of excitement.

This year, sophomores ascended the stairs to their gym seats as the juniors before them had once done. It became apparent to some sophomores after the assembly started that something was off. The volume level was, just as it has been for years now, a little low in the sophomore section.

This was the origin of what is seemingly the most common complaint of the sophomore crowd.

Sophomore Dana Kirkman agrees with the complaint, having had a negative experience at the first assembly.

“We can’t really see anything or even hear anything because of the speakers,” Kirkman said.

The speaker problem was, for some, a flaw of the first assembly, but the fact that there were speakers at all is a recent addition.

“Just last year, we finally got a new sound system so [the sophomores] could at least hear but up until then they could not even hear which was unfortunate,” ASB adviser Jamie Mooring said.

Although the speakers didn’t work during the first assembly they have since been fixed, which Kirkman said should improve assemblies.

Some see the distance between sophomores and their upperclassmen as beneficial.

“There is an aspect where sophomores get to view how everybody responds and reacts and how the cheering goes. They get to see all that,” Mooring said.

On the other hand, others such as sophomore class treasurer Gabby Gallucci, see the distance from the main floor as a problem.

“The kids do not feel as involved,” Gallucci said.

Gallucci noted that the seating arrangement definitely affected sophomore school spirit, which can make it difficult for newly-elected sophomore class leaders like Gallucci who are trying to raise said spirit.

“[In the sophomore section] nobody wants to pay attention, so they talk, which makes it even harder to hear,” Kirkman said.

This adds to the idea that the seating separates sophomores from other classmen when it comes to participation.

Considering the size of the gym, it’s impossible to fit any more people on the main floor. Sophomores have been sitting in the upper floor for over 10 years, excluding the one attempt to move them a few years ago.

“We tried to bring [the sophomores] down and have them sit on the floor so that everybody was down at the base. That did not work; [sophomores] were very angry that they had to sit on the floor,” Mooring said.

There are a few other possibilities, however.

“We can have more juniors and seniors up there [with the sophomores], showing them what to do,” Gallucci said.

Although nothing can be done about the physical space of the gym, according to Mooring there is plenty of room for a change in attitude.

“I have to say that last year’s sophomores did the best job I’ve ever seen in participating. Even though they were way up there, at every assembly the front row made their way to the bar and stood along the bar so that they could cheer down to [the gym floor],” Mooring said.

Whether sophomores can recreate this spirited environment during the 2013-2014 school year is up for debate but Gallucci is hopeful.

“As the year progresses, sophomores should get more comfortable,” Gallucci said.

Gallucci’s opinion seems to coincide with the idea that while a person’s first impression is important, their overall opinion and attitude can change overtime.