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War of the Words: Homecoming

Nicole:

Homecoming haters, I don’t get you. How often do you experience a day when student—past and present— from your school come together to showcase their pride? Not often. In the absence of such events we find ourselves complaining about lack of school spirit.  Sure, the lines of sloppy beer guzzlers marching down Richmond Row after the football game is inevitable and frankly a bit distasteful. But Homecoming isn’t jus about drinking. If we examine what Homecoming is, we will see that each activity, drinking, football, bar hopping or the parade has a common thread—togetherness.

Amber:

Yes, in theory Homecoming is about tradition, togetherness and football, but in reality it’s a daylong drinking-fest. People look forward to the pancake keggers, The Ceeps and the chance to wheel at the bar—they don’t care about alumni or the Mustangs. By the end of the game the football stands are nearly empty because students are more concerned about getting in line for The Ceeps rather than seeing the final minutes of the game—the morning after Homecoming you might not even know who won the football game.

Nicole:

Yes, students rush downtown, skipping out on the game’s final minutes, but it displays greater school pride than not going at all. It’s bad enough we can’t get students to support other varsity sports, so seeing T.D Waterhouse full once a year is nice. Regardless of how you choose to spend your time, the purpose of Homecoming will always be the same. And you can either choose your involvement in the traditional festivities or don’t participate at all. And Homecoming wouldn’t be the same without the backdrop of students dressed in purple, a constant stream of noise throughout the day, front lawn keggers, and of course, pancakes.

Amber:

The backdrop of students dressed in purple is less about school spirit and more about rivalries with other universities. Seeing drunken students from other schools in shirts with “Wuck Festern” on them is disrespectful, and by no means a sign of school spirit. Homecoming Keggers are becoming few and far between as DJs and tent parties are becoming all the rage. I’m sure the alumni aren’t interested in seeing Steve Angello and Dirty South in a tent down on Dundas. In a perfect world, Homecoming would be a day where past and present students come together, but now it’s only a day with DJs and drunks.

Nicole:

What Homecoming really comes down to is choice, one that each and every Western student makes. You can choose to laugh at the shenanigans or be bitter towards them. If you select the latter, you opt out of an opportunity to bond with fellow students. If hanging out with alumni over a pot of coffee is how you’d rather spend Homecoming, I’m sure they’d love that idea. While students can be found at bars after the game, so can alumni. The craziness around Homecoming hasn’t stopped alumni from coming back every year. So sit back, relax and remember this day only comes around once a year.

Amber:

The real choice students are going to have to make this Homecoming is if they prefer to attend the tent party or The Ceeps. Homecoming traditions may still be intact for Western alumni, but for the majority of students it will be a day they barely remember. This Saturday will be like every other Saturday in London.

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