Fights have no place during homecoming

October 8, 2007 —

Homecoming's here. You've got king and queen elections, powder-puff football, sector wars and...fights?

Apparently, the fun of homecoming events has turned to a life or death competition.

It's great to see so many SVSU organizations come together for the past week and a half, but it's not so enjoyable to see them all argue. The events of the week prior to homecoming are meant to bring the school's organizations together, but incessant arguing is tearing them apart.

This year, more teams came out to compete in the events than ever have in the past. To see 19 student organizations so eager to become involved in school-related activities is incredible. To see them all compete to the point of insulting one another isn't something to be proud of.

People are forgetting that this homecoming week is all in fun. Organizations will not perish if they do not win a trophy. Life will go on after homecoming.

I attended the Robin Hood tournament last week, and everything seemed to go smoothly. Cameras flashed and people were laughing as organizations cheered on their team members, who paddled across the pond in cardboard boats. I thought to myself, 'This is what homecoming is all about.'

However, bumps in the road to homecoming are expected and understandable, and things won't run smoothly all of the time. Stuff happens, misunderstandings occur and people's attitudes reflect on this. Whether the teams brush off these minor incidents and continue to have fun or to use them as a reason to fight is up to them.

The homecoming committee has worked hard since February to make this week possible and so when it comes, so do the high stress levels. When they have to start dealing with petty arguments and having people yell and swear at them, it's no longer a fun campus activity. The committee has volunteered many hours of their personal time to create fun activities for the rest of the student body and doesn't deserve to be disrespected. The competition seems to be overwhelming for some organizations, which is not its purpose. Laughter, good times and smiles are expected, not people walking away from events angry and upset. Homecoming isn't supposed to be a source of retaliation and anger.

During the Variety Show on Thursday night, most organizations had it right. SVSU vs. Findlay. Not one organization versus another. Saginaw football players tackling Findlay Oilers are what we want to see and what we need to keep it at.

Even though it is always fun to be part of the winning team and to hold that homecoming trophy high above our heads during half time of the football game, we need to remember that we are all part of the same team at SVSU.