In a military boot camp, if one prospective soldier screws up, the entire class is affected. One person gets caught sneaking food into the barracks, everyone must run 37 miles or do 400 pushups. The thinking is that the wrath of the classmates suffering for someone else’s rule-breaking will dissuade said rule-breaker from doing it again.

In the wake of a disgraceful onfield brawl between players from Vicksburg High and Jackson’s Murrah High, the school district sponsored a senior recognition night Friday, highlighting the efforts of the band, cheer squads and Gator Girls dance team members. It was the actions of the football team — save the few who know how to act and stayed on the sidelines instead of joining the fray — that led to the canceling of the final two football games of the season.

That should have been it. Done. Season over.

But, because senior recognition night was planned for Oct. 26 at a game against Warren Central, and because that game was canceled because of hooliganism, seniors in the band, cheer and dance teams were not able to get recognized on the field. While we salute the efforts of those who make Friday nights about much more than just football, we question the rationale behind granting a senior recognition night.

Had all events been canceled, the band members and cheerleaders might have approached the football players who sullied the school’s reputation. They might have used peer pressure to express their disgust with the actions of a few — remember, only about 45 of the school’s 1,100 students were involved in the melee. Had enough pressure been put on those who do not know how to act, maybe it would have sunk in that Vicksburg High’s football team is so much more than just the 11 on offense and 11 on defense.

But in a world with few consequences, the militaristic response was dashed to make others feel better. The most puzzling is that senior football players have been invited to participate. With about 85 percent of the team’s roster having been involved in the fight, certainly some seniors were involved in the brawl. To honor them sends the wrong message.

Actions are supposed to have consequences. If the VHS football team is one unit — a production that includes everyone from the quarterback to the fourth tuba player — they all should be treated the same. Had all those seniors been denied Friday night recognition, maybe the next batch of players wanting to brawl with an opposing school would think twice.

But now, they probably won’t.

And they might get recognized for it at a special event.