It’s homecoming time again, well, spring homecoming that is. The homecoming celebrations are an official welcoming back of former faculty, staff and alumni, usually in order to showcase new additions and to celebrate traditions and similar histories. This is a special homecoming because it is also AASU’s 75th birthday and anniversary rolled into a monstrosity of a celebration.
So Pirates, both current and alum, should all race out to their favorite jewelry store and pick up the traditional 75th anniversary gift, a big, blinging piece of hardened carbon, commonly known as a diamond. But if you can’t exactly swing the diamond gift, make sure to show up for all of the events that AASU will be presenting its Pirate family with.
Homecoming events are always centered around a big party, gala or banquet, and on the university level, usually a football game.
It can’t be American unless it involves some tossing of the trusty pigskin. Because football is a fall sport, most universities celebrate their homecoming events in late October or early November, and they usually highlight one of their more ferocious rivalry games. Following the gridiron action – a good excuse to gather generations of alumni – is usually a homecoming formal or dance.
This tradition has been so successful through the college landscape that just about every high school in America has adopted the tradition as well. The dance seems to be a much bigger deal to the high school audience, with the incorporation of a homecoming court that is headed up by the unusually democratic election of monarchal figures. Every court, including the American homecoming court, must have a king and queen. These titles have become a type of popularity contest, usually voted upon by the student body.
AASU is no different in many of the traditional homecoming practices, but with our own Pirate twist.
We have our homecoming in the middle of February instead of the later fall months. That may have something to do with AASU’s lack of a football team. That could change in the coming years; in recent surveys, parents of students have been asked if they would oppose or welcome a Pirate football program. Bring it on. Football usually creates growth, and college football is a pandemic that affects nearly every demographic of the American public.
The tailgating, a must-have accessory to any football program, is yet another homecoming tradition that generally fuels a unique college experience, if it is handled responsibly and safely. It’s also a tradition that AASU, a primarily basketball-focused school, is dabbling in.
New to this year’s homecoming and 75th anniversary celebration is a tailgate party and antique car show that will showcase automobiles from the past 75 years. Models from 1935 up to 2010 will be available for admiration. The party will begin with the tailgate festivities on Feb. 27, continue through the women’s and men’s basketball games and end with the perfect night cap, in the form of the high school-ish, but still fittingly fun homecoming dance in the Student Recreation Center.
Those events represent the pinnacle of the homecoming celebrations. There’s a lot more going on throughout the whole week; 75 years worth of partying can’t be completed in just 24 hours after all.
The week will be chock full of celebrations that anyone and everyone can attend, complete with philanthropy and door prizes. Every event represents the opportunity for students, staff and alumni alike to donate canned food products for the Haiti relief efforts. The deal gets sweeter still, as every attendee at every event will be entered to win a 26” flat screen TV.
The week will include everything from a theatrical performance of “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” to a Greek society block party, Powder Puff football to a luncheon for the classes of 1935 – 59, and live entertainment from a comedian, a spoken word artist and the music ensemble’s concert.
That’s all without mentioning the announcement concerning who will be the king and queen and their court. Let the facebook support groups begin. It’s an all-out campaign to become the most popular student at AASU, if only for homecoming week. The selections of the king and queen bring back memories from high school, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Some people wish they were still in high school, while others are just trying to maintain their youth through high schoolesque events, because once they earn that college degree, they are grown ups, and this is their last chance before mortgages and car payments dictate their lives.
And for all the Joe Cools that can’t stand the idea of immature events like a homecoming dance or tailgate party, we’ve got something for you too. The majority of you are poor college kids, whether you can admit it or not. Three out of the six days that are consumed by the homecoming festivities offer free food. It can’t get much better than that. You can come out and eat your free hot dog, hamburger or pizza and cynically make fun of all your childish peers.
So even though AASU doesn’t have a football team that competes at a higher level than Powder Puff or intramurals – yet – come out and celebrate your school’s 75th birthday, and you don’t even have to bring a diamond gift. It’s sure to be tons of fun, and it’s free. Take part in everything you possibly can: vote for the court, eat up all the food being passed out, check out the cars, comedy, ensemble and stage shows and come cheer on your AASU Pirate athletic programs. After all, this Pirate family reunion – your Pirate family reunion, represents the Pirates that have come before you, all 75 years worth, and the ushering in of the next 75 years – and more importantly it represents you and your community.
Hope to see you out there celebrating.
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