Not all senior pranks equal

Cooper High School senior Blaine Walls pulled off his senior prank based on his basic mantra of mischief.

"It has to be tougher to undo than it was to do," he said.

That's why he conspired with his friends to buy a trampoline and arrange for someone to leave the school door unlocked after a choir concert late Monday night. They sneaked in and assembled the giant frame in the cafeteria with a calling card -- a bold "SENIORS 2009" spray-painted on the bounce mat in Cooper red and blue.

"I've been wanting to do a senior prank since I was like 7 years old," said Walls, a state UIL science contender who concocted a chemical to weld the trampoline parts together to make it impossible to easily disassemble. "The class has to leave its mark."

Students arrived the next day snickering. Even some staff admitted they found it a tad funny.

But some had a different reaction last Friday morning when they found a scoreboard on the roof of the science building, a goal post uprooted and the ramp to a portable building torn away.

Principal Gail Gregg, who has allowed some senior pranks in the past, called that one more serious.

"Sometimes pranks cross the line to become vandalism," he said, noting the trampoline incident that involved different students was just senior high jinks. After news reports aired about the vandalism and Crime Stoppers tipsters turned in information, four students went to Gregg and confessed.

"They didn't deny it or lie," Gregg said, noting he can't divulge names or punishment details. "They cooperated and handled it like men. I think it was a teaching opportunity, but kind of a tough one."

One of the students involved told the Reporter-News that criminal charges won't likely be pursued. He said he has been assigned to in-school suspension and has had to pay $200 for his part of the damages. All the students involved will participate in graduation.

Typically, such vandalism at a school can be considered a felony and carry a fine and possible jail time.

"I just want to say I'm sorry to Mr. Gregg and Coach Spradlin, who had to pull down the goal post," the student said. "We didn't mean for it to get out of hand this way. We are just seniors trying to leave a mark."

Gregg said senior pranks don't have to be destructive, which is perhaps why he has allowed sanctioned pranks in the past.

Last year Cooper administrators didn't stop students from removing all the tables from the cafeteria and dispersing them throughout the campus.

At Abilene High, principal Terry Bull tells students to run their senior prank ideas by the school resource officer. Last month seniors were allowed to spray-paint messages on their school lawn.

"We inform the children that there's a way to do it, otherwise there's serious consequences," Bull said, noting AHS hasn't had any unsanctioned pranks this year.

When asked if he remembers taking part in a senior prank with the Class of 1972, he said, "Nope. I was a good boy."

Gregg said he had to turn down one prank suggestion when this year's seniors wanted to drive trucks into the hallways.

"The fire marshal wouldn't allow it," he said.

But some seniors, such as Walls, say asking for permission defeats the purpose of a prank.

That's why Blake Holder and his friends didn't bother to let anybody know when they planned a midnight cookout on campus with hot dogs and a 40-foot Slip 'n Slide.

About 1 a.m., he said, an administrator came and told them to leave, but they didn't get in trouble.

"We didn't have any beer or anything," Holder said. "We were keeping it real official."

Senior Clayton Carrell, who took a run on the Slip 'n Slide, said: "We wouldn't do anything that would send us to jail. If you're going to jail it would have to be something big and worth it."

Senior Thomas Wilson decided not to be a part of the trampoline and cookout pranks, although he doesn't completely disapprove.

"The trampoline didn't cause any damage," he said. "Your prank has to be tasteful."