Is the Homecoming voting system adequate? Pro: ASB does Homecoming just right

By Eric Zheng
Opinion Editor

Homecoming is an annual tradition which takes place at Costa and high schools across the nation. It is centered around a dance and the naming of a Homecoming King and Queen. Homecoming requires little change in its process, including that of forming the Homecoming Court.

Currently at Costa, participants in the Homecoming Court are nominated by clubs or student groups and then elected by the student body. The nominees then participate in a week of school-sponsored activities in hopes of winning the honor of Homecoming King or Queen.

The current Homecoming system is the most suitable for Costa. Having clubs and groups nominate participants ensures that nominees are active students who meet the expected standards of the homecoming court.

As a result, the Homecoming court is unique, as it models the diverse interests of the senior class. Giving clubs and groups the power to nominate participants rather than individual students also prevents the entire process from become a popularity contest on a mass scale.

Allowing only upperclassmen to vote in the elections ensures that the Homecoming Court is nominated and decided upon by its peers. It also prevents popularity from becoming a central issue with underclassmen who are not familiar with the students of the court. The court should represent the most active students who are both admired and respected by their peers, rather than merely popular.

On another note, a leading goal of the Homecoming week festivities is to promote school spirit and student involvement. Drawing the Homecoming Court nominees from clubs promotes student involvement in extracurriculars such as clubs.

However, other systems do have their advantages, but none are more appropriate than ASB’s current policy. Having students nominate participants allows more students to be involved in the Court, but results in a large court that is subject to popularity, and not the merits of its nominees.

The existing policy creates a Homecoming Court that includes active students, represents the majority of the senior class and promotes participation in extracurriculars.

Changing the Homecoming nomination system would be like reinventing the wheel and obtaining an inferior product. Costa’s current policy is best suited to produce the Homecoming King and Queen.