This year, for the first time, STUCO decided to make “nerd day” a part of spirit week.

“The whole concept of nerd day was fun and lighthearted,” Tracey Waeckerle, STUCO sponsor, said.

Hallways were filled with high-rise pants and suspenders, over-sized 3D glasses with the film punched out, and blazers and bow ties.

However, some students voiced their concern that the day could be taken offensively.

“It’s a chance to show creativity,” Ash Patel, junior, said in a letter to the editor. “However, some people could be offended by the stereotyped colloquialism ‘nerd’.”

Patel said that the day was a good idea to promote school spirit, but also noted that the day “might backfire” and end up being invasive.

“One possible idea is ‘pretend that you are a brilliant mind, especially in the fields of mechanics and computing, and so dress accordingly’ day,” Patel said.

In fact, there was a rumor that STUCO debated the concept of nerd day.

“I heard they were going to have people dress up as whatever stereotype they wanted,” Amanda Boone, junior, said.

But Waeckerle confirmed this was only a rumor.

“The idea never even came up,” Waeckerle said. “That’s a rumor.”

Said Principal Greg Mathison, some teachers also expressed concern about the day’s theme.

“They were worried that it would offend students who might fit into the stereotype,” Mathison said.

Karen Corbett, language arts teacher, was one of these concerned teachers.

“After recent news events, like the kid jumping off a bridge, I always worry that kids will be offended by stereotypes,” Corbett said. “I hate to see anyone pinholed.”

But Corbett and Mathison agreed that, despite concerns, nerd day was a success.

“I turned out to be the most successful spirit day,” Mathison said. “Students and teachers handled it appropriately.”

Mathison said he only received positive feedback about the day from parents and students.

“It was supposed to be the over the top,” Mathison said.

Mathison said he even had one parent joke that he was offended because his son went straight to his closet looking for a nerdy outfit.

“It went so well,” Corbett said. “Maybe my fears were unfounded.”