Western Courier

Issue date: 10/9/06 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: April Cowgur

Homecoming is a special time of the year for all educational institutions. It signals renewal, a return to wholeness: a celebration to be had by all. However, in recent years Homecoming has fallen from grace and dropped in status to just another excuse for students to get drunk and party.

Homecoming has always been synonymous with alcohol and having a good time, and while those stigmas technically remain intact, the core of what used to be the main focus behind Homecoming has been lost.

Most students on campus don't necessarily want to participate on campus - and with gimmicks such as "Cartoons are Alive in 2005" and "Hooray for Hollywood," we at the WC don't blame them. Nevertheless, just because some students don't think it's cool to show school spirit or are just turned off by the less-than-stellar Homecoming themes doesn't mean it gives them the right to commandeer Homecoming and turn it into an excuse to throw a kegger. If some students don't want to celebrate Homecoming or don't wish to celebrate Homecoming properly, fine. But if you're not going to celebrate correctly then don't celebrate at all.

Homecoming is supposed to be fun. Granted, students can argue that they have plenty of "fun" throwing huge parties and getting smashed, but that is a different kind of fun. Parents, alumni - both old and young - and family are all going to be in town this coming weekend and the last thing that needs to be showcased is how immature and unfocused this campus has become. Western has been highly ranked by national surveys the past few years - let's show our returning family why.

As one of the most significant events on campus, Homecoming weekend deserves to be held to a higher standard than the average weekend here on campus. Whether or not you want to celebrate Homecoming is your choice, but whatever you do this week, try and do it with some class. Oh, and go Leatherneck football!

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