Under former principal Paul Robinson, the annual school theme, as cliché as it usually was, normally conveyed a positive message for the school. These included TOGAther, RISE UP and Strength in Numbers, and while they always made a few students cringe or were completely ignored when inserted at the end of his speeches or emails, they were basically harmless and inoffensive.

But what the student body received this year for a theme was far from a gentle encouragement or punny catchphrase. In fact, it was a slightly controversial. Instead of the usual cheesy and positive pun, we got “Just learn it.”

Just Learn It — is similar to the famous slogan “Just Do It” by Nike but academically relevant. 

How could the phrase be misinterpreted?

That Calculus concept you still don’t understand after hours of studying? Just Learn It. That AP Euro unit on the age of reformation you’re beginning to really hate? Just Learn It. Comment vous appelez-vous en Français? 

Just Learn It.

In a school culture that’s already so focused on academics, this type of message isn’t really what most students want to hear. Some concepts are challenging to grasp, and even harder to explain, and most of us already sacrifice much of our free-time for academic-related activities, so the last thing students want is the school board shoving this slogan in our faces.

Now it’s obvious that new principal Greg Louie had no malintent in choosing this slogan. In an email sent at the beginning of the year, he stated that the meaning behind the slogan ties in closely with perseverance and work ethic. However, these ideas are simply not being expressed in Just Learn It. This miscommunication is rooted in a process that is flawed and susceptible to failure. 

Since neither the ASB nor any student input appears to be involved in the process of choosing the slogan, it does not properly consider the mood and feelings of the student body. If there are no students involved, then the slogan will never actually be what the student consensus believes the school should represent. 

Although this year’s slogan may have missed the mark in terms of how it has been perceived, involving students in the selection of future themes would likely solve the problem.