By: Essence Buckman, Staff writer
Wofford college’s annual homecoming, otherwise known as “WoCo HoCo” is a fine time for students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, friends and others to join together for a series of events leading up to the football game. Multiple events are sponsored by sororities, fraternities, Wofford Activity Council (WAC), alumni and other organizations. Homecoming events are usually the same each year with each day consisting of the Mr. Wofford pageant, scheduled game nights, movie nights, band parties and a tailgate in the horseshoe between residence halls Shipp and DuPre before the football team takes on a rival.
A brief question and answer session was conducted with sophomore WAC member, Mary Margaret Holden, on her opinions of how 2015 homecoming differed from 2014’s, the expectations for 2016’s homecoming, as well as specific questions on the Mr. Wofford pageant:
Q1: What is your opinion on this year’s homecoming compared to last year’s homecoming? Likes? Dislikes? Favorite moments?
A1: It has been a crazy week but I think everyone has enjoyed it. The new event, the Founder’s Day event Monday, was a huge success, and I think people really enjoyed that.
Q2: Is there a reason for the theme being ‘The Blind Side,’ different from last year’s ‘Remember the Titans?’
A2: [WAC] wanted to base [their] theme around a movie and [The Blind Side] is a great movie about football.
Q3: Some people described some of the 2015 Mr. Wofford contestants to be a little risqué. What is your opinion on this comment and/or have you received any comment on the content of the pageant?
A3: Yes. I do think it was a little risqué this year. I have heard that some people were bothered by some of the comments and costumes, but I have also heard from others who thought it was hilarious. My job was just to make sure the show goes on. Unfortunately, I can’t censor what anyone says onstage.
Q4: Any expectations for next year’s homecoming?
A4: Hopefully [WAC] will be able to get some more people to attend the movie night next year!
Alluding to question number three, students who attended Mr. Wofford on Oct. 21, 2015 showed excitement as the audience engaged in applause and laughter. However, post-pageant, some students spoke among themselves and were a bit shocked. The opinions on the actions of some of the contestants were not praiseworthy.
“I do not believe students should be allowed to participant in the competition while being intoxicated,” sophomore Olivia McGowan says. “It was very obvious that some of the participants were drunk. Some disrespectful things happened, such as disrespecting our president and Jerry Richardson. Profanity was used in the same sentence with the word ‘Jesus Christ’. It was too much.”
Her opinion is an example of how some other students felt about the content of the show during homecoming week. Regardless of this year’s Mr. Wofford having more negative comments than the preceding year, students are likely still excited for next year’s competition, along with possible different events.