Homecoming weekend is one of the best ways of bringing the school together as a united community.
By bringing both current and former Carleton students together a common tradition can be established. It’s something every student who comes through the university experiences.
This needs to be done organically. No matter how many advertising campaigns administration runs, without students buying in, there will never be a homecoming tradition at Carleton.
The thrilling football victory over the University of Windsor this year was an excellent start.
With more than enough beer and hot chocolate to go around, Keith Harris Stadium was filled with rowdy fans cheering on the football team.
Needing a blocked field goal attempt in the dying seconds of the game to seal the victory, Carleton improved to 4-3, a far cry from last season’s 0-8.
As the team improves, it is giving fans a reason to come out and watch. If the Ravens don’t seriously compete against the top teams in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) football conference, the stands will be empty.
Sitting next to ‘97 graduates at the football game; yelling obscenities at the ref together is a unique experience. It’s something that can only come through the collective school spirit that homecoming offers.
Carleton students should embrace homecoming in all of its aspects to keep it as a new component of our collective identity.
