What does homecoming mean to you?

With this week being set aside for VCU’s homecoming, I am led to voice my outlook of its importance to our student body. First, I must go back to high school when homecoming was about having fun and showing pride for your school. There was a pep rally, a dance, a parade, a king and queen and things of that nature. Everyone looked forward to each event and wanted to participate.

On the college scene, I recall hearing about the homecoming events of colleges such as Norfolk State, Virginia State, and even Virginia Union, which is right around the corner. Every year there’s something to look forward to like celebrity performances and the football games. You could hear the talk around campus of who’s going to whose homecoming that weekend. When asked when VCUs homecoming would be, our only response was : “We don’t have one.” Until now, never has there officially been a week designated as Homecoming for VCU students and alumni, but what does this really mean?

Last week in class, a classmate who was also a member of one of the homecoming committees decided to announce the events taking place for homecoming. When she started talking the room was quiet and everyone was paying attention, but that quickly changed. I looked around the room finding myself to be the only one listening. Feeling completely disrespected, she cut her announcement short and sat down. Not only were the actions of the other students disrespectful and rude, but it also showed just how much homecoming meant to them…obviously not that much!

It is evident that VCU does not have a football team and according to the article “Football team will not touch down anytime soon” by my fellow staff writer Arlon Staywell, it is not in the works. Could the absence of a football team serve as the cause of disinterest in our homecoming? A football team does not necessarily make or break a homecoming does it? Or do the words VCU and homecoming not belong in the same sentence?

For so long this school has been without a homecoming, but now that one has been formed no one seems to care. There isn’t much talk about the pep rally or parade, or at least I haven’t heard it. So far everyone has acted like it’s just another week, for many that’s just what it is.

It is true that most colleges indeed have a football team and being that their homecoming is during football season maybe that’s why it is so popular. On the other hand, we here at VCU are in a way breaking tradition by having a homecoming during basketball season. We are using our shortcomings of not having a football team to our advantage and at the same time it is history in the making.

Instead of envying other schools, we need to step up and support our own. By doing so, we are forming a new meaning of homecoming and a new way of celebrating our school’s existence. By participating in this year’s homecoming, future homecomings will improve. We should stop criticizing what’s being done and help out or suggest activities that will make it better each year. You have to start somewhere and that’s exactly what VCU is doing, but if there is no support we are taking the chance of once again not having a homecoming at all! So as a student here, I’m not telling you to dress up in the school colors every day (they are black and gold for those of you who didn’t know). I’m not suggesting that you go out and buy every VCU sweatshirt in the bookstore. But for God’s sake, just show a little school spirit and pride.