BREAKING NEWS: “Every 15 Minutes” cancelled due to lack of time for preparation
October 28, 2014
Editor’s Note: Foothill’s Every 15 Minutes was first organized in 2008 by student Lauren Cook with help from Foothill staff and students. In 2010 and 2012, the project was spearheaded by ASB adviser Darcy Duffy; however, it was not an official ASB event, but rather drew on support from various students in the Foothill community, as well as from a half dozen local agencies and organizations. The Dragon Press believes this was important context missing from the article published Oct. 29. This note was added Oct. 31, 5:12 p.m.
On Monday, Melanie “Captain” Lindsey announced to Foothill’s Associated Student Body (ASB) class that Every 15 Minutes would be cancelled due to a lack of time for preparation.
Previously held at Foothill every other year, Every 15 Minutes (E15M) was a two-day event that staged a car crash and “killed” students in 15 minute intervals to show the effects of drunk driving.
Foothill usually applied for a California Highway Patrol grant in April, then prepared for the December event with numerous meetings. The California Office of Traffic Safety provides the money for these “mini-grants.”
Last April, Foothill did not apply for the grant.
Lindsey said she would not have enough time to plan and execute the event because of her other responsibilities, including running Foothill’s ASB and helping support the school’s new athletics program.
“I’m human, and there’s only 24 hours in a day,” she said.
In the past, a car crash scene was staged on Day Road, complete with fake blood and paramedics on day one. Students were pulled from class by a student dressed as the grim reaper, signifying their death. The drunk driver in the simulation went through a mock trial.
The “dead” students spent the night at Foothill, unable to contact previously notified friends and family. On the second day, they would be honored with a fake funeral that brought real emotions from students and staff.
“I would have to start it in April of next year to have it happening in 2015-16, but I don’t foresee that happening either,” Lindsey said.
She also does not expect that other teachers will take it on because of the time commitment.
Previous E15M coordinator Darcy Duffy said she understands why with Lindsey taking over ASB and the implementation of sports, it might be “too much to take on.”
Duffy said when she organized the event, there were 5 meetings with the community partners and meetings every two weeks with a smaller team during the fall.
“Accomplishing the things we said we’d get done in those meetings is a whole other hour source,” Duffy said.
ASB members agreed with Lindsey’s decision.
“It was just a lot on everyone,” said junior and ASB member Corinn Conant. “We’re trying to see if we can get another teacher to take it on so we can do it next year. We can’t really do anything about it now.”
Foothill students were disappointed that they wouldn’t be able to take part in the event.
Junior Rachel Peek thought that the event taught students valuable life lessons.
“It actually really said something about being safe because we are teenagers. It […] made us realize that we need to be responsible and take care of everyone else,” she said.
“That was a really good experience to see how your life can change in 15 minutes by making wrong decisions,” senior Justin Lubert said.
He thought it would have been interesting to apply to be one of the “living dead.” However, Lubert thinks that students should not be too upset.
“If you can’t fix it, there’s no point being sad about it.”
Liam Egan • Dec 11, 2014 at 10:31 pm
Just scanned the site and saw that it will be returning. I hope my contribution is meaningful, regardless. Peace Foothill!
Liam Egan • Dec 11, 2014 at 10:23 pm
This article is over a month old now, but it’s an interesting issue and I presumptuously think maybe I could contribute.
As a Foothill student, I drank and drove a few times. I stopped at some point during my junior year, but it had nothing to do with Every 15 Minutes. It had to do with a sensible girlfriend telling me I was a total, utter idiot – which I was (and still am, in different ways). I could never take Every 15 Minutes seriously – a bunch of very straight edge kids I knew making a video of them “partying” and then dying because they drove? Acting it out in public and getting the police to go along didn’t change anything, because that just made it institutionalized, publicly funded BS. A hundred Foothill students I know laughed at it with me, including others participating in the process of making it come to fruition.
We weren’t laughing at it because we thought drinking and driving was cool. We laughed at it because the whole thing was contrived and silly. We all had the thought “Who could possibly have an emotional response to this?” A couple kids did, but they would never drink and drive anyway.
But here’s the thing. It put the issue on people’s minds. Even the kids who completely dismissed the message. Would I have listened to my girlfriend telling me I was an idiot for drinking and driving if I didn’t have this very public message on my mind, regardless of whether or not it was presented in a silly and easy to dismiss way? Probably. But I can’t say for sure. Every 15 Minutes, whether it affected me or not, managed to seep into my subconscious. I’ve become a better and more responsible person since. There may be a correlation, there might not be. But how could you risk that there isn’t? How could you risk the chance that that this thing won’t positively affect people? Chris Prewitt showed me that being positive and optimistic, no matter the burden on oneself, is always a good thing. I’ve never learned a more valuable lesson! He died by an intoxicated driver. Why stop what methods we have of eliminating that behavior?
Captain Lindsey (or C-Linds, as I call her) is my teacher, my mentor, and my friend. I don’t doubt her capacity for caring, her intentions, or her work ethic. C-Linds, you are amazing, and I mean that. But you’re wrong – Every 15 Minutes is a valuable educational experience whether people take it at face value or not. It could save a life. I’d be hard pressed to think there is a better allocation of ASB’s most valuable resources: money, time, and willpower! And I do hope that Every 15 Minutes eventually returns.
Former Student • Oct 31, 2014 at 2:17 pm
It’s sad to see that this isn’t happening. It would have been nice to see some sort of article saying that the grants for this weren’t applied for. At the same time it would have been nice to see someone else taking charge of this project so it could possibly happen. I’m not trying to place any blames on anyone for it not happening. I personally think this was a beneficial project.
Cathy Schwemm • Oct 31, 2014 at 12:12 am
Captain – As the mom of a student who was actively involved in both E15 and ASB, while I’m sorry that E15 isn’t happening I also know how much effort you put in to everything you do at FTHS. Thank you for all your hard work; this parent appreciates you very much.
Benjamin Limpich • Oct 29, 2014 at 6:35 pm
When I was a sophomore I remember having to watch the video substitute instead of actually getting to go out and see the car crash and have the full Every 15 Minutes experience; the limited space was reserved for the upperclassmen. The difference between then and now is that I realize why Every 15 Minutes is so important. A few weeks ago I jumped out of my bed in the middle of the night in my pajamas and drove my drunk friend safely home, and the reason why I made that decision is because when I saw his slurred text I immediately thought of how the situation could easily and quickly go horribly wrong.
Along with Alumnus I don’t recall any Foothill student caused DUI accidents, but that does NOT mean that it’s something that isn’t incredibly influential and beneficial to the Foothill populace.This event personally ingrained the idea of how horrible drunk driving is for me, and it’s worrying that not only is it just being put aside this year, but it looks as if it there aren’t plans to revive Every 15 Minutes either (why I say that: “I would have to start it in April of next year to have it happening in 2015-16, but I don’t foresee that happening either”-Captain).
It may be impractical, but we can’t discount the magnitude of the loss.
Captain • Oct 30, 2014 at 6:43 pm
Ben – first of all I commend you for taking care of your friend. Well done. It is not that I do not want this program at our school, I support it wholeheartedly, however I am not the only person who can bring programs to and run programs at FTHS. This year we have two brand new APs who have never run an FTHS graduation and one Senior Class Advisor (me) who has been involved in 12 graduations. So in April I will be immersed in planning your graduation, doing final prep for AP classes, etc. E15M was started by a student in 2008. If students want this then they need to be the ones pushing it forward. How may times have I heard in the shirt time that I have been activities director, that our rallies are stupid, PROM is lame? There is always someone who is unhappy. I am not the only person who can makes things happen. The power is in the students’s hands.
Benjamin Limpich • Oct 30, 2014 at 7:05 pm
I understand that, and you are doing a bleep-ton of work for the senior class, and I know we often don’t appreciate that. I was simply expressing my sorrow on the current loss of what we both agree on is a great opportunity for Foothill to show it’s students the dangers of drunk driving.
Mrs. Kindred • Oct 29, 2014 at 5:36 pm
I realize that students see things differently, but I’d like to share why I am GRATEFUL that there will not be an E15M this year. I have three children–all young adults right now. For me, this presentation brings my worst nightmare to the forefront. I remember telling the seniors (when they were in my sophomore English class in 2012), that it doesn’t take much for a parent to imagine the worst, to imagine that something horrific could happen to their precious children. And now with the grief of Mr. Prewitt so fresh in our minds, well, let’s just say that I don’t think I could have handled something that emotionally volatile and draining. So, thank you ASB, for sparing this teacher’s feelings.
Rachael • Oct 29, 2014 at 2:44 pm
Very sad to see it isn’t happening, especially because no one wants to do it.
To me, it’s way more important than any silly renaissance rally (which students could easily organize).
Captain • Oct 29, 2014 at 2:51 pm
Rachel – then take it on. It’s not that no one wants to, it’s a time issue. I am already working 50-60 hours a week (and getting paid for 40). When E15M was first brought to FTHS it was entirely student organized and run. It’s time for kids to step up if they want something to happen.
Students do organize Renaissance rallies and we would love to have your input to improve what you consider “silly”. Join us in our open meetings or complete the surveys that we send out so that we can improve.
Captain • Oct 29, 2014 at 10:19 am
Dear Alumnus
Did you graduate from FTHS? Do you even know what level I give to this school every day? Would you like to see what I do within my school day and then at home EVERY DAY? How about you put your money where your mouth is and come back and organize it?
I cannot believe how rude and cowardly your post is.
Educator • Oct 30, 2014 at 5:30 pm
Interesting that your response focuses on yourself. Your use of the word I multiple times indicates that you feel this article was directed at you personally. Isnt Every 15 Minutes about leading young adults toward informed decisions regarding alcohol and driving? As ‘Captain’, shouldn’t your role include embracing projects such as this??
Captain • Oct 30, 2014 at 6:31 pm
Not the article, the comment. And absolutely E15M is about that. I totally embrace this project however I am overwhelmed with the amount of work that I have and cannot lead another project. I wholeheartedly support students taking this on and finding another adult to advise this project. I will offer help wherever I can but it is physically impossible for me to do anything else right now.
Another educator • Oct 31, 2014 at 8:13 am
I think a lot of people are just upset that we’re only now finding out about this. If we’d known back in April, before the grant was due, someone else could’ve taken it over.
Alumnus • Oct 29, 2014 at 8:49 am
I’m just confused. This simulation has been a staple of the Foothill experience for years. To hear it was cancelled is very sad, but the fact it was cancelled due to lack of dedication from the staff and students is even worse. The 2012 Every 15 Minutes was the best the school has ever seen. It was planned by many busy students, teachers, family members, and government workers. Not only were the Students knee deep in Junior AP tests, SAT’s and ACT’s, College Applications, and the stress Senior year brings, but also the main planning chair was running ASB, Renaissance, and the Bio Science Academy. Not to mention she was very pregnant at the time.
It is obvious Every 15 Minutes teaches valuable lessons; however, the effects of the simulation are never seen. We will never know if the simulation persuaded someone not to drive home in an intoxicated state, but what we do know (at least to my knowledge) is that a Foothill student has never been the responsible party in an alcohol related accident.
To leave with one final point… I am incredibly shocked that there was a lack of passion behind Every 15 Minutes this year, especially because our beloved Mr. Prewitt’s death was a result of intoxicated and reckless driver.