Unmasking the truth about the Homecoming theme change

10410846_649739891811091_6598677160738652642_nHomecoming jitters begin surging throughout school when dollar after dollar goes to local bakeries making countless cookie cakes with the big question, “Be my date?” written across the center. For the majority of the student body, Homecoming is an event that students buy their tickets to. For the Student Council, however, Homecoming comes together after countless early mornings of planning and preparation.

In August, before the 2014-2015 school year set off, dozens of Homecoming themes were brought to the table for a Student Council vote. After the analyzing and narrowing down of options, the poll was taken: the theme would be “Where in the World is Homestead’s Homecoming.”

Promptly after being announced to the student body on the Homestead Facebook page, there was bickering over negative feedback from various seniors and select juniors.

The first comment, only a short thirty minutes after the initial post, made by Liam McCormick, senior, read, “Can we veto this theme?” Seventy-five other students “liked” this comment.

This first response began the booming flow of negativity towards the theme and suggestions for different themes.

“Why in the world is this the Homecoming theme?” Jake Heilmann, senior, wondered.

Alexis Thompson, senior, suggested that a poll be taken to avoid dissent over the theme. “To change the theme weeks after? It was slightly unsettling. Dozens of girls I had talked to already went out and bought their cultural dresses, but now have to either return or let sit in their closet until the next opportunity comes. I don’t have a problem with this new theme, though the change from ‘around the world’ to ‘superheroes’ shows a lack of depth on the students’ part. In the end, it doesn’t matter. We’ll all have a great time regardless of the theme. It’s just a shame that anyone who initially had a problem with the theme acted with disrespect and ignorance for those who worked hard on planning it. It just wasn’t fair to them, in my opinion,” Thompson said.

Mrs. Dawn Pfaff, student council advisor said, “The immediate feedback from a few loud voices on Facebook and Twitter were negative, and it hurt feelings, it was very hard for a lot of kids who put a lot of time and effort into planning and discussing the theme.”

So as certain upperclassmen shared their opinions about the theme, the possibility of bad outcomes arose.

The student council executive board members sat down in a meeting with Mr. Brett Bowers, Homestead principal, Ms. Lindsay Maslowski, student council advisor and Mrs. Pfaff to discuss the possibility of changing the theme.
Mrs. Pfaff said that Student Council did not want to be held responsible for any disrespect towards other cultures coming from students acting out.

Mr. Bowers explained his concern over the lack of conception about the vision for a cultural theme. “In the absence of that clarity I just thought that we were not moving in a direction that was going to ensure a really positive Homecoming experience for everybody because people were not totally clear on exactly how they would interpret that theme… With that lack of clarity, as we were getting closer to the event, I thought it would be in the best interest of the school to consider something else, so that people could really get behind it,” he said.

And so, the new theme of superheroes was decided.

In reference to the former theme, Mrs. Pfaff said, “We actually had some really good vibes about this,. We had some really great feelings that this could be a wonderful opportunity for kids to be able to go in many different directions. [It was meant to] not only be a Homecoming theme but a statement that we are truly diverse here, and that we can celebrate all that diversity. It was meant to be a celebration.”

Mrs. Pfaff also went on to express her excitement for the new theme. “I think [the superhero theme] has equal potential to be amazing,” she said.

In the end, with the debate between the two themes settled, it appears that Homecoming 2014 will be a super one.