Campaigning to bring the homecoming spirit back

2–3 minutes

The student body should have more say in how homecoming court works

Every fall, homecoming season rolls around and brings everyone together, but that unity often fades as quickly as it arrives. Seniors are nominated to become Homecoming King and Queen and only present a speech and a great performance of their talents right before the student body votes for who they think deserves the crown. The voting process, which is meant to be fair, feels more like a popularity contest than a celebration of school spirit.

Allowing seniors to campaign could revive the spirit for this old tradition. Campaigning would help students see the faces and personalities of each of the nominees.

Dylan Lee (12) was on this year’s homecoming podium. He said, “Campaigning allows students to be more engaged in the homecoming week. More underclassmen and students would have the opportunity to know about the people they would potentially vote for.”

Lee also suggested expanding participation in the nomination process. “I think we should have more people in the first round of voting; that way, more people have an opportunity to get on the podium.”

At Millennium HS in Tracy, California, campaigning for homecoming brings people together, especially underclassmen. Hannah Solomon is a senior there, and she shared that campaigning brings the energy for the whole week, unlike the one-day event at AHS. Solomon said, “My school gives all their students a chance to participate and equal opportunity to win their votes by campaigning. Our school puts a list of all students, and that is the first round of voting.”

Giving candidates the chance to campaign could fix the lack of connection by inviting underclassmen and other less involved students to join in on the week’s occasions. The current system set up at AHS makes the students simply observers, watching from the sidelines instead of being part of a larger school spirit.

Elsa Fan (12) and Benjamin Chen (12) were crowned at the homecoming football game (Photo Credit: Tiffany Notice (12)).

Krysten Castuera (12) also believes that campaigning would make the process fairer and more exciting for the student body. “I feel it would show more of their personality and would be more interesting,” she said. “When you are voting, you’re just looking at a name, not seeing what they can do and what they contribute.”

Homecoming should be more than just a one-day contest. Bringing campaigning to AHS would bring back school spirit and leave a lasting impression through friendly competition.