On most college campuses, the week of homecoming is a time for students and alumni to show their school spirit and participate in a variety of activities. Even community colleges treat homecoming as a special event. Disappointingly, homecoming at Mississippi State is just another average week on campus and in Starkville: no buzz and no point. Of course, it would help matters if homecoming at MSU actually lasted for a week instead of a weekend. A good move would be to set homecoming on the week after Fall Break so that students don’t tiredly crawl back to campus from their personal trips and activities.
And when we say “week,” we really mean it. There should be events set aside for each day in order to build and maintain excitement for the weekend football game. For example, one day could involve a large pep rally, another could feature a concert and perhaps another could even be a “costume day” – anything to promote interest and let students know that homecoming is not just another week of classes and regularly scheduled activities.
Sadly, the MSU Student Association didn’t do enough publicizing for homecoming this year, a continuation of the SA’s limited advertising for Bulldog Bash. The Reflector staff knew many students who weren’t even sure that homecoming was about to begin. Sure, we received a notification by e-mail the day before homecoming. However, an event of this magnitude requires more planning and advanced notification.
Money should be set aside far ahead of time for homecoming activities, and the SA should advertise them frequently during the 30 days preceding homecoming. In the age of Facebook, mass e-mails and Web sites, there is no excuse not to advertise an event like homecoming.
Furthermore, Homecoming court has detached itself from the general student body. Now, it is mainly an avenue for Greeks to dominate and satiate. How does this traditional event even benefit the majority of MSU students today? The answer is that it’s a waste of time, a billboard for deep pockets and suits.
It is important to remember what homecoming is primarily for: alumni coming back to visit and experience the modern form of their alma mater. If MSU students and organizations don’t make the effort to plan an exciting week, then less alumni will come to the event, and those who do come may not feel compelled to donate money to such a boring and out-of-touch university, notwithstanding any sentiment attached to the college. The result is less funding for MSU.
Homecoming at MSU is in bad shape, in need of an overhaul and on life support. But we can still improve the week for next year. We need small changes that will add up for one big week.
The Reflector editorial board is made up of opinion editor Matt Watson, news editor Erin Kourkounis, sports editor Melissa Meador, entertainment editor David Breland, photo editor Bud Sorey, online editor C.J. LeMaster, managing editor Nathan Gregory and editor in chief Tyler Stewart.