"Landmark is a small , progressive public high school on West Fifty-Eighth Street, with a graduating class of sixty, almost all of whom are going on to college. For the first time in the school's seven-year history, the seniors were to be allowed to choose a prom king and queen. The tradition defies Landmark's egalitarian philosophy , but a small group of girls had campaigned until the teachers relented -- on one condition. The winners' names would be pulled from a hat. Even with this compromise, Vivian Orlen, the school''s assistant principal was nervous. 'There's one particular girl, Elizabeth. If she doesn't get it, I swear she'll jump off the boat,' she said."

Dani Shapiro also had the opportunity to get the point of view of Elizabeth. "'Oh, my God, I want to be prom queen so bad,' Elizabeth said. Her face was sweet and stony at the same time. 'I've worked so hard, spent so much money on my appearance. -- and now it's a raffle.'"

The "tradition" that Shapiro refers to is one in which a handsome couple are chosen to preside over the prom celebration. Nerds need not apply. The tradition is practiced in thousands of North American high schools every year.