One of the most popular traditions for the better part of the last decade during the famed WA Spirit Week is the Lady Grey Ghost Football game, better known as Powderpuff. The Thursday tradition that has hosted many great games over the past years, has been cancelled for this year and for future years.

One member of administration who was directly involved in this decision was Dean of Students Betsy Murphy. According to Murphy, the decision had mostly to with the danger surrounding the game, including the lack of padding and the aggression by the teams over the past few years.

Murphy cited the history of the game over the past decade or so, noting that the size of the school and how teams used to prepare for the game much longer in advance, making for a safer game overall.

“We got to a few years where it was actually getting kind of vicious […]. It was really really intense. […] Every single year someone has gotten really hurt,” Murphy said.

Murphy noted that the nature of these injuries was of main concern, stating that the most recent injuries have actually had to do with inexperience, whereas the past had just been a select few girls playing too intense for the nature of the game.

“I don’t think we’ve ever left a night without a concussion, a broken bone, a broken nose, a broken collarbone,” Murphy said.

Student athlete and senior Hannah Browne feels that past aggression and inexperience of other senior teams should not preclude the Class of 2018 from participation.

“I don’t agree that because of the aggressive nature of seniors in years past that it should be take away from this year’s seniors because we do play fair and do our best to play clean,” Browne said.

Murphy also noted the high liability for the school was becoming of major concern to the school’s legal team, who feared a lawsuit as a result of injuries during the Powderpuff game.

Browne took issue with the concerns of liability for the school.

“Every player and their parent signs a wavier saying they understand the risk of injury. If you don’t want to get hurt, don’t play. It is as simple as that,” Browne said.

Fall coaches has also suggested that they did not want their best players being in the game, but also feared looking bad for keeping those girls out of the game.

The administration still seeks to find an alternative to the Thursday night football game, suggesting to the Student Council activities such as ultimate frisbee that would reduce the risk of injury and over aggression in the future.

“This didn’t happen yesterday, this was discussed last November. But of course, as it gets closer, people get more passionate about why we aren’t having it,” Murphy said.

Murphy noted that she had heard rumblings of an off site game of the same nature as Powderpuff, and expressed her concern about possible injuries during a non-school sanctioned game.

Overall, administration is disappointed that the tradition cannot continue, but feels it is in the best interest of the school and the students that the Thursday night football game is ended for good.

“We would love to see a Thursday night event come back, just less aggressive,” Murphy said.