The widespread school tradition of Senior Assassin—a game in which participating Sixth Formers are assigned targets and must eliminate them by splashing them with water until just one remains—is a beloved tradition across the country as well as an annual Sixth Form competition. Students are protected while holding various safety items, ranging from Barbie dolls and stuffed animals to dumbbells and water-filled gallon jugs.
“Senior Assassin has become kind of a staple of the senior experience, which I think is really cool.”
Finn Kelly ’25
“Senior Assassin has become kind of a staple of the senior experience, which I think is really cool,” Sixth Former Finn Kelly said. “I like it a lot because your target can really be anybody in the whole class, so sometimes you might need to go somewhere or do something you might not normally do.”
Senior Assassin also fosters a sense of camaraderie and excitement. “Kids who normally never would are showing up to tennis matches and lacrosse games for the sole reason of assassin,” Kelly said. “I think that’s pretty cool.”
While the majority of students look forward to and cherish the game, faculty members often voice concerns. There have been incidents at other local schools of students’ water guns being mistaken for real guns; just two years ago, SWAT officers arrived at a Shipley School lacrosse game after receiving reports of a student possessing a firearm. The so-called firearm was merely a water gun.
“It’s important to remember that it’s all in good fun and for the purpose of community building, not breaking.”
Finn Kelly ’25
This instance of unwanted consequences for students participating in the game is just one of many. Action News reports that just last year in the suburbs of Chicago, two teenagers pulled water guns on their target at a restaurant, and a man at a nearby table pulled out a real gun in defense. The associated risks and potential harm lead to many administration members questioning whether this seemingly harmless game brings discredit to the Haverford School community.
The short answer, as far as students are concerned, is no.
“There was really nothing too crazy this year,” Sixth Former Jamie Stait said. “Mostly the kids just want to have fun and enjoy the experience, knowing this is really their last fun event together before they go off to college.”
Kelly agrees. “It’s important to remember that it’s all in good fun and for the purpose of community building, not breaking,” Kelly said.
Many faculty members support the game, but suggest strong limitations and regulations to ensure a safe experience for all. For many, Senior Assassin is a memorable experience that is a right—a right that students adamantly defend. Because the activity is not school-run but led by students with little oversight of faculty, it is unlikely to be prohibited any time soon. The simplest solution, as with any activity that imposes a degree of risk, is good decision-making and thoughtful planning.