Homecoming Changes Promise a Better Experience for Student

Evan Welsh | Senior Writing Editor

A big change is hitting homecoming this year at the high school campus. The dance will be taking place on Friday, Oct. 17, after the football game. This is different than previous homecomings; in the past, the dance was held the day after the football game, students had to pay for tickets, and most students used the event as a dress-up dinner outing as well.  This year, however,  the “dance” will become more of a party including games, food trucks, dancing, and many more activities, and it will be held immediately following the homecoming game, which has some people upset.

People simply need to have an open mind and embrace the change.  The new style of homecoming will be far better than years before. It will save students hundreds of dollars as well as make a more stress free occasion. With the new party, students no longer have to spend the large amounts of money on dresses and suits; they will be able to simply go to the party in the clothes they want and not have to worry about how they look. The dance will also be free, minus the food trucks, so students will be able to have a fun, free night after the game to celebrate alumni coming home.

In most parts of the country, there are no big homecoming events like those seen in Texas, there are simple parties after the game to celebrate. So those who say that this new way of doing it is “breaking tradition” are actually mistaken because it is going back to the way it is supposed to be done.

Though the new homecoming party is very different, it will still have aspects similar to the old ways it was done. Those who dance will still be able to dance, and those who don’t will have plenty of opportunities to do what they want, with the incredible food trucks being an added bonus. Everyone gets the best of all worlds.

Homecoming Changes Destined to Destroy Student Experience

Jocelyn Pierce | Reporter  and Matt Davenport | Senior Sports Editor

Many people in Argyle are looking forward to homecoming. The mums, dress up days, parade and bonfire, and so much more. Homecoming is a home-town tradition, especially in the big state of Texas. But this year, Argyle staff has decided to change it up a bit. Students can still do every other traditional activity, but the dance has been moved to Friday night, right after the football game.

Moving the dance to Friday night and changing the event is breaking tradition. We as students have grown to get excited about getting all dressed up Saturday night to ask or be asked by that one special person. Argyle has had the homecoming event on Saturday every year since the tradition began, and a lot of students are upset about the time change. Our student section expends a lot of energy during the game, so fans and especially players aren’t looking forward to showing up to the dance sweaty and tired.

To be fair, the teachers and staff have put in a lot of time towards planning homecoming this year. Games, food trucks, a DJ and lots of dancing will be included, but it will be a non-formal occasion designed to be more of a hangout than a romantic event or, as it has been called, a winter Prom. In theory, this is a solid idea, but most students are not excited about homecoming this year because the opportunity to make an impression on someone special or make distinct memories has been greatly diminished.

Students are already making alternative plans for homecoming. These plans range from bowling parties at Main Event to several private parties at various households. The largest group of students are going to the 21 Pilots concert in Dallas at the House of Blues at 7:30 that Friday night. Students are asking others to “Homecoming” but are actually planning to go to the concert where they can have a more memorable experience.

The decision to move homecoming was made purely by the staff and teachers with the intentions of making the event more student-friendly and stress free. But while homecoming is meant for alumni, the dance and event is for students, and student council had no say in the event’s set up. The event was made for students, but the students did not get a say, they were merely informed.

One of the goals of moving homecoming to the Argyle gym was for teachers and supervisors to be able to insure no alcohol or drugs were used by the students, putting them in danger. In the end, one of the worst consequences of this change could be the amount of students affected by these negative influences at private parties and concerts.

Even though it is too late for this year, the staff should re-think homecoming and go back to Argyle’s tradition for next year.