OUR VIEW: Homecoming dance in need of update, not canceling

smart to look at the trends and then notice something just wasn’t right. Numbers were declining and the dance is expensive. But the action taken to simply cancel the dance seems more than just a little absolute.

The Homecoming dance is tradition – and it should stay that way. We are not advocating all activities on campus must remain on the calendar forever, even as attendance drops with every year; programming should evolve with the student body. But there are simply certain traditions that make us who we are and the Homecoming dance is one of them.

Frankly, there’s been a few too many assaults on tradition for comfort in just the few weeks school has been in session. In addition to canceling Homecoming, ASUSU also modified True Aggie Night, a tradition that has been USU-unique since 1916.

We are not implying there is a conspiracy to destroy the traditional activities at USU. In fact, we applaud the decision to include President Stan Albrecht’s inauguration into the Homecoming activities. This celebration has the potential to be a very unifying event for our campus.

There is merely concern that recent changes are indications of a trend that will continue the rest of the year, rather than being one-time proposals. And let’s not forget traditions are unifying, too – activities like the dance bring alumni together as well as students.

It’s possible the Homecoming dance needed to change, but it didn’t need to be done away with. Other options to make the dance more student and cost friendly were available and should have been pursued more aggressively.

Furthermore, traditions should never be about the money. Since when is an activity required to make money to remain a tradition?

ASUSU should take a closer look at what they just toss aside. In the future, we encourage them to find ways to mesh current needs with heritage.