A valiant return: homecoming makes a comeback for fall 2021

With a lineup of exciting activities, homecoming 2021 is sure to not disappoint

Mikayla Coleman | News Editor

Homecoming week is upon us. This student favorite, which has been at Western for a century, is back and will not disappoint. Oct. 5 – 9 marks a week jam packed with exciting and engaging activities leading up to the big game and the crowning of Wolf Royalty on Saturday.

Homecoming is much more than just a football game. “Having something where we can come together and kind of have fun and unite over something, even if you’re not into sports, it’s a good excuse to dress up, put on your WOU shirt, or whatever,” said Antonia Scholerman, the Homecoming Events adviser.

Homecoming this year has a more emphasized meaning. Due to COVID-19, almost all students were off campus last year and were unable to attend or participate in the traditional activities, like football games.

In our ever-changing COVID world, we are learning to adapt; and homecoming, like most other on campus events, has had to adapt as well. For example, the Power Puff game was replaced this year with a dodgeball tournament. This exciting addition to homecoming week also proves to be more inclusive.

“Typically Power Puff was only open to female-identifying students and so (now) anyone of any gender can participate in the dodgeball games,” Scholerman said.

While homecoming events are important in growing and strengthening the community of students at Western, it is also a way for students to get connected with their off campus community in Monmouth. The activity that best exemplifies this is Paint the Town Red in which students will paint the windows of local businesses in downtown Monmouth. Student groups sponsor these windows and they will be judged against one another. The winner will be announced during a pizza party for the participating groups. This process of collaboration between these businesses, making a very physical and bold show of support for students at Western, reaps a mutual benefit.

Every year there are nominations of students, by students — six of whom will end up on the 2021 Homecoming Court. After the court is established, these students will fill out a questionnaire and have interviews to allow students and staff to better get to know them and their values. Once those are filled out, voting forms will be sent out to all students so they can vote for the two finalists who will be crowned Wolf Royalty.