Starting Friday, Nov. 3, all students attending any games at LN will be required to show a valid 2023-2024 school ID.
“This rule has been set in place due to recent events, and we feel that the students should be able to watch their friends and peers at sporting events and feel comfortable and safe and enjoy the game,” Donny Mimms, 9th grade assistant principal, said.
This rule was solely set for the safety and comfort of the students, according to administration.
“We want you to come to the games for the rivalry, to cheer on your peers, we want you to come and support this winter,” Mimms said. “Come and support, but have your ID, get your school ID, we’re gonna ask to see your ID so that way we can have a more enjoyable event when you come.”
For students who have yet to get an ID they can receive one from Liliana Nuñez in the second floor counselor suite.
Athletic Director Mike Penrose says this rule mirrors what many adults already have to do.
“Just like your driver’s license or identification in order to get into various events as an adult, I have to show my license sometimes in order to get into certain places. It’s just something you guys need to get in the practice of doing and that’s why we have the student ID,” Penrose said.
Sometimes students would forget IDs because they thought they wouldn’t need to use them.
“I didn’t even get an ID last year and still haven’t this year because I thought we wouldn’t even need them,” sophomore Kaeden Sanchez said.
It’s very important to show the importance of having an identification on you.
“We have to keep in mind that we have to provide a safe and secure environment for everybody visiting our campus so we have to make sure everybody who comes in we know, so you have to have your valid 2023-2024 ID, if you have a picture of it work too just so we can verify who you are,” Penrose said.
This could raise questions on how students from other schools can watch the games. There is a very simple answer for that, they will need identification too.
“If we have a game between LN and another school, we will just be having those students attending the game so that way if a student from another school wants to come in and cause trouble we can easily stop that at the gate if you’re not one of our students it’s only for the people who are playing the game,” Penrose said.
This rule will continue for dances including Prom as well.
“We do this a lot of time for dances too. Especially with Prom you have to fill out permission slips to get somebody who doesn’t go to school here, and they have to be approved by the other school. Whenever you go to a dance, oftentimes there will be a list and people there checking you off, asking for IDs, so this is really just standard procedure,” Penrose said.
