Students Organize Counter-Pep Rally Using Twitter

After school officials canceled a pep rally, students at Gaithersburg High School today protested by organizing a riot-like rally of their own.

Students used Twitter and other social media tools to organize the protest rally.

The original rally, part of Spirit Week, a week-long homecoming celebration, was called off shortly before it was scheduled to start at 12:30 this afternoon after some students became "overly spirited," according to Gaithersburg Principal Dr. Christine Handy-Collins.

Today was class color day, and students painted their faces and used glitter to decorate themselves in colors according to their class.

During lunch, the spirit of homecoming week had some students getting out of hand, Handy-Collins said.

"Kids were throwing paint on each other," she said. "There was paint in the halls and on the ground outside... A senior, I presume, threw blue glitter on a junior."

As students returned to class after lunch—instead of the front field at Bohrer Park at 12:30 for the rally—Handy-Collins decided to cancel the pep rally.

Angered by their Principal's decision, the students organized a "makeshift rally in the halls" between sixth and seventh periods, Handy-Collins said.

She insisted things never got out of control.

The story on Twitter has been different.

Go_Los tweeted this at 1:30:

"For those who dont know: Handy Collins cancelled GHS's pep rally cus someone threw paint in the halls...& the students are revolting."

At 2:48, sfreshley12 tweeted this:

"The best riot I have ever seen in GHS today!! It was crazy!!"

And Lifegoeson_656 tweeted:

"Juniors and seniors run ghs."

Officials, it seems, weren't pleased. Marvinxgaga tweeted this:

"Dr.handy collins " We are taking videos and pictures and we are gonna start suspending!" Ghs gonna have nothing but bums."

Handy-Collins said there are no suspensions "at this time."

But when asked about Marvinxgaga's tweet, she said "If it had escalated further..."

Handy-Collins said the rally lasted about 20 minutes, and everyone was back in class for the end of the day.

She added that the homecoming dance scheduled for Saturday will go on as planned.

The Educational Facilities Officer from the Gaithersburg Police department was not at the school today, but was notified about the student rally.

Handy-Collins said the day will not go to waste.

"We'll use it as an opportunity to have discussions on making good decisions," she said.