It has often been a trend that a few people will ask to the next dance almost immediately after the previous dance, leading to a rush of people asking shortly after that, in fear that the person they want to share that dance with so badly might be taken before they get the chance to ask. Asking someone three months in advance seems a tad unnecessary, and it’s starting to get on the nerves of some students. 

“I think it’s stupid…I understand [asking] a month early so that you have time plan, but two or more is a little excessive,” said Kennedi Morris. 

Most students at Davis agree with Kennedi that a month prior to the dance is the appropriate time to ask. Nobody wants to have a date scheduled a quarter year in advance, it just sounds ridiculous. 

Nevertheless, there are still students asking their dates to the dance on the night of the previous dance. 

“Maybe they’re worried about the guy getting asked by someone else. Like, they want to call dibs on the guy,” stated Shayla Monson. 

People like Shayla conform to the trend because of feelings stemming from fear. In addition to worrying about a specific person being asked, many people will ask early because they start to believe that all potential dates might disappear. 

“They’re excited and competitive. Obviously, if there’s someone they want to ask, they want to be the first one to ask, so they have them as a date,” According to Kennedi. 

The way Kennedi sees it, people are conforming to the trend because of a tendency to compete when resources are limited, in this case, the resource being dates. 

While the tendency still perpetuates, many guys having already been asked to Christmas, some students are getting increasingly vocal in their campaign to end early asking. In the midst of the early rush of asking, it is not uncommon to see posts on social media calling people out for asking three months in advance. 

Despite the call for the end of the trend, and most students agreeing that the practice is unreasonable, people are still asking to dances months in advance. 

“Well I said I was strongly against it, but I did ask early, because everyone asks early. You’re just paranoid someone else is going to ask who you want to ask,” said Shayla. 

It’s here that the problem lies. Students are so afraid that others might ask that they become a self-fulfilling prophecy, contributing to a practice that they don’t agree with. As long as students are worried about getting a date to the next dance, there will always be early asking. There’s really nothing we can do about it.