An exciting night full of fun, mingling, and dancing is expected at this year’s homecoming ball. The ball will take place downtown at the Marriot Hotel. The theme, “A Night Under the Stars” was chosen by campus clubs and students. In order to live up to student expectations, coordinators, such as the Associated Student Inc and Programming, took in consideration student input and are doing their best to make those expectations a reality.
Many students such as Freshman Patty Jaramillo ask “Why do we have a homecoming when we do not have football?” The answer coordinators all agree with is ”We do not want to lose the opportunity for student involvement. Having homecoming is a way to capture school spirit in liue of not having a football team,” said Spirit Program Coordinator Arthur Smith.
Most Universities initiate their homecoming at a football game but at CSUB basketball is used to get people excited for homecoming. So far it’s worked well, students are eager to attend the basketball game and many alumni also attend. Coordinators strive to have alumni come back each year to the promising events but it is not the main purpose. At last years homecoming game 1,151 people attended.
An event like homecoming takes a lot of time to organize “It is not something put together in a couple of weeks. It’s a beast in itself, we have been working on it for seven to eight months,” said Smith. Coordinators strive to get more students to attend each year. In order to do so the location this year was changed to the Marriot Hotel. Last year homecoming was at CSUB’s Icardo Center, so not many students wanted to attend. “I did not attend last year we look forward to dressing up and feeling like we are going to an event. Not just get dressed up to walk across campus,” said Junior, Phycology major, Thalia Martinez.
“Involvement outside of regular school academic requirements is vital. Student involvement outside of the classroom ties students more to campus. College is more than just going to class. Make experiences and make memories to look back at,” said Smith. In order to get the full college experience students need to get involved. Due to not having a football team there is an absence of school spirit among students. “We lack in school spirit. Going to events will help increase school spirit,” said Ricky Perez, ASI Director of Arts and Humanities
In order to insure student involvement the week of homecoming a series of events are held. One of the events students look forward to is voting for the homecoming court. Depending on their status students can run for freshmen, sophomore, and junior prince and princess while seniors run for queen and king. Voting will take place Feb. 25 at the Student Union students can vote with a valid CSUB ID.
“I really like to participate and be involved in events that are going on around campus, especially during Homecoming Week I believe Homecoming Week brings a very positive vibe and an energetic atmosphere on campus,” said Dhiraj Kumar ASI Director of Business and Administration.
Tickets are now being sold at the cashier’s office $10 for students and $15 dollars for guests. Only one guest per student is allowed.
