THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 15, 1996 TAG: 9605150380
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DENISE WATSON, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 100 lines
While other Western Branch seniors have been flashing photos from last Saturday's Junior and Senior prom, Anh Phu is empty-handed. He can't crack, like others, about the country line dancing. He can't get in on the jokes about the potato chips and warm watermelon appetizers instead of dinner.
That's because 18-year-old Phu and his date, an Indian River High School student, weren't allowed into the prom because she hadn't filled out the required guest form.
Her $650 dress and his $85 rented tuxedo and $20 haircut were a bust because Phu's original date - for whom he paid a $15 guest fee and filled out the necessary paperwork - canceled the night before the prom. Phu hustled to get a last-minute companion.
``I didn't know until that Friday night. What was I supposed to do? I didn't have the principal's home phone number,'' Phu said.
``I thought I could go there and explain everything and it would be OK. But it wasn't . . . They wouldn't even let me take pictures. I was so hurt. I'll remember this for the rest of my life.''
Most Chesapeake high schools require prom dates who aren't students at that school to fill out a form stating the date is of ``good character'' and will abide by the school's rules. The form is validated by the signature of a teacher, school administrator or an employer - no relatives - who attest to the student's integrity.
``It's a protection of our students,'' said Deborah Gallagher, one of the Western Branch prom sponsors. ``When we're sponsoring an event, we don't want any felons or troublemakers there. . . . He came with someone he didn't have approval for; we can't allow it.''
Tom Cupitt, spokesman for the school system, said the guest forms are common practice in the schools.
``It's a way for the schools to know who is there at the prom.''
Phu's date, a foreign-exchange student from Indonesia, ``just wants to forget it,'' Phu said. ``She's afraid she'll upset her host family by speaking against the school.''
But Phu and his friends believe the snubbing of Phu and his date is extreme.
Another Western Branch student, Kanama Henry, said there were many at the prom who slid in on phoney forms.
``There were a lot of folks there who weren't supposed to be there,'' Henry said.
``A lot of things happen the week before the prom. People get sick, they get in an argument. A lot of folks get to the door and say, ``Oh, yea, sure, this is such and such.'
``He could've lied. It's sort of like he's getting punished for telling the truth.''
Phu said he and his date went to the prom, which was held at Grand Affairs in Virginia Beach, and went to the door where an attendant looked for his name on the list. She read his name and that of his original date and Phu began to explain that he was with someone different. He was asked to leave.
Gallagher said that the school has made exceptions in the past.
``Many of us are listed in the phone book, students have called us at home,'' Gallagher said. ``And we've allowed them to submit letters if they couldn't get the forms.''
Phu, who transferred to Western Branch from Indian River High School this year, said he didn't know about the process or whom to call.
``I was trying to do so much running around on Saturday and she did too,'' Phu said. ``She went through all that trouble to help me out.''
He and his date left Grand Affairs, ate dinner and later met friends at the Virginia Beach oceanfront.
``They could refund my money, but it wouldn't help much,'' Phu said. ``They can't give me my Senior Prom back.''
Since then, Henry said, some students have rallied around Phu.
``Some have said they want to throw him his own prom,'' Henry said.
``It just seems so unfair. I know how hyped I was after the prom. I would've cried if I were not allowed to attend mine.''
Phu said he did.
``I took a long walk on the beach afterward, and shed a few tears. I couldn't believe that this happened to me,'' he said.
``I was so embarrassed because I called this girl up at the last minute to help me out and then we can't get in.
``But what hurts the most is that I just wanted my prom cup. And to dance for my school.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
MORT FRYMAN/The Virginian-Pilot
Senior Anh Phu said a last-minute prom date left him no time to get
a school-required form. ``I'll remember this for the rest of my
life.''
Graphic
THE RULES
Western Branch requires prom dates who aren't students at the
school to fill out a form that says the date is of ``good
character'' and will abide by the school's rules, such as no
smoking. The form must be signed by a teacher, school administrator
or an employer - no relatives - who attest to the date's integrity.
by CNB