I would prefer if YOU stayed home

I have to be honest. After graduating from a high school that didn’t have mainstream sports such as football and basketball or, in my opinion, enough black students, Southern University’s HBCU status (Historically Black College or Universities) and its Homecoming were two of the many reasons I choose to attend. I look forward to listening to or attending most football games, the atmosphere, and the general energy surrounding the ‘Yard’ during Homecoming Week.
It is a fact that I don’t think any school in the world can top SU. It’s not because I have so much pride in my school, (because I do, obviously) but it’s because I hear the dissatisfaction from student’s nation wide about their schools. Mind you, Southern students have moments, especially around registration time, where anywhere other than SU is better. There’s a better system. The checks come quicker. The classes weren’t kicked out. The phones were actually answered, and the like. But at the end of the day, things work out for the best, and the headache is forgotten until the next registration session comes around.
As a native of Baton Rouge, many of my fellow natives post-graduation placed Southern on their ‘There’s No Way In HELL I’d Attend There’ list. It was often a point of contention among us. Granted, I went through a phase where I wanted to get as far away from Louisiana as I could. Preferably, Africa.
As long as it wasn’t home, anywhere but was a-ok with me. At the end of my senior year in 2004 however, something in me changed. I wanted to attend the same school my parents, aunts, cousins, and older friends graduated from. I wanted to attend a school where I was more than just a number, or a face in the crowd.
In actuality, I just wanted sports. And Black People.
At this point, a handful of my fellow alumni attended Southern Fall 2004, and the rest spread out, shaking their heads and fists at what they thought was talent wasted. They believed that Southern was a horrible, ghetto school, and nothing, as stated before, in hell would make them attend.
So, imagine my surprise when these same friends, who consider SU ‘ratchet,’ were the first ones to nearly every home game, every SU themed party, every on the Yard activity.
I know many will say that SU students travel far and wide to other schools for their functions, and that it isn’t always about the school itself, rather ticket sales and money.
Whatever.
This week, the comedy show and concert (as it was previously) was open to any Louisiana college student with a valid ID and purchase of a ticket. Personally, I don’t agree with this. I never have, and I never will. I love the fact that the school gets a profit from sales, but I hate how every person I know speaks so ill of Southern, but are the first ones on the Yard for Pretty Wednesday, every home game, the best away games, party, after-party, program, forum, and motivational speaker. It’s amazing, really.
I ask them, constantly, “Why not just come to Southern? You act like you go here anyway.”
And the responses I get are feeble, at best. “It’s too many black people up there.” Wasn’t a problem considering how much you yourself continue to come here. “They didn’t have my major.” Sure we don’t; general studies isn’t offered. “Y’all too crazy and thuggish. And y’all have STDs.” Amazing.
Homecoming, as defined by Merriam-Webster is the return of a group of people usually on a special occasion to a place formerly frequented or regarded as home; especially : an annual celebration for alumni at a college or university.
Therefore, Southern University’s Homecoming is for former and present SU students to rekindle friendships, make new ones, and enjoy the unified bond of calling Dear Southern a home away from home for a while. It isn’t time to make a quick buck. It’s a time to enjoy our school and campus and the Southern hospitality that we’re known worldwide for.
It may seem selfish of me to want something I’ve never gotten a chance to enjoy in high school-homecoming-all to myself. It may seem wrong to want to keep something to ourselves during such a joyous week. It may seem churlish to shun open invitations of other school’s for various functions. I don’t attend because I don’t want to. I believe in the Golden Rule: Do unto others. Which means, I don’t go to other school’s Homecomings.
Therefore, bottom-line: If you aren’t a Southern student, faculty, or alum, I’d really prefer if YOU stayed home. Your own home.