Alfred Johnson | Staff Writer
Hampton University’s Homecoming is one of the most long-awaited events on campus. Still, after the world’s continuing battle with COVID-19, changes are being made, and it’s making students raise a brow as to what’s happening.
The reason is that people were expecting Homecoming to occur a little later in the month. Coming into the school year, students had Homecoming as one of the biggest topics on their minds, specifically if the event was even happening. Because of state and national regulations, students weren’t sure of what to expect.
Little to no one could confirm if one of Hampton’s most popular events would happen, and it left students in a sort of limbo. Word spread that other HBCUs were having to adjust or cancel their Homecoming activities overall. Because of this, Hamptonians became skeptical.
“I felt a little sad because Homecoming is one of those big events that everybody goes to,” Hampton University senior Iman Jones said. “You can meet other people that went to the school. That’s where connections happen.”
Hollands and 12 to 2s feel more like a memory to returning students and a dream to new students. The only thing worse than a fear of missing out is hearing about what you missed.
It isn’t news that COVID has people missing out on potentially pivotal moments in their lives,
Therefore, it shouldn’t be surprising that people will expect more from the university.
For returning students, however, the campus feels more like a ghost town. Less is happening, and people are more hesitant to be out and about with the national mask mandate. Newer students don’t know enough about moving, and returning students are readjusting to being back.
With the number of campus events being reduced, people are doing their best to hold onto whatever is happening around campus.
Lines for Homecoming tickets formed a U-turn in the Student Center, and they sold fast. Events like the fashion show, step show and silent party filled up, and students made the most out of every experience.
Balancing social life with academia is enough of a challenge. With students trying to hit deadlines, subtle pressure is building up, and students are doing their best to make little to no sacrifices in the classroom.
The issue is not with how Hampton is carrying out mandates. If anything, people are more pleased with the fact that the school is taking caution.
The concern is more around the fact that students don’t know what is going on. It wasn’t until recently that people got news about what is happening with campus events. The questioning isn’t about who said what but what is truthful.
Once people could confirm that HUChella 2.0 was happening, they made sure to attend whatever they could.
“I think it’s cool to have Homecoming, especially for those who weren’t able to experience it,” Jones said.
All of this to say what? Students aren’t necessarily upset. They’re just confused, and students do not need to throw blame everywhere.
The people and organizations working to push these gatherings and events are doing everything they can to notify students of what will happen and when. With COVID changing our way of life and everyone trying to rebuild, this feeling of disorientation is just a side effect.
Thanks to the people behind the scenes, students get to continue the Hampton Homecoming tradition and go home with stories from their home by the sea.
The Hampton Script 