Homecoming, one of the most anticipated days of the school year, is a time for students to spend time with their friends and/or dates, dress up, feel special, and create lasting memories. Despite the excitement around dinner outings, party buses, “Hoco proposal signs” and after-parties, one traditional part of it is losing its appeal: the very homecoming dance itself.
Many students claimed they would rather skip the dance altogether, driven by the strict rules and a lack of eagerness. Some only attend once or twice in their four high school years, while others never return after being pressured to attend their freshman year. Tommy Brennan ’28 is not going back this year after going to his first homecoming dance last fall. He felt confined by the event’s rules, a common feeling that students share regarding the dance.
“I’m going to skip the dance this year because there is a certain time you get locked in and out of it,” Brennan said. “You don’t really have much free will with that. I think you should be able to leave whenever you want, but after you leave, no reentry”.
South’s lock-in occurs from 7 to 8:30 p.m., during which students are not allowed to leave. Teachers and chaperones guard the exits to enforce the school’s policy.
Claire Hathaway ’27 has attended South’s homecoming dances for the past two years, but she will also be skipping this year’s event. She doesn’t feel like dealing with the lock-in this year, as it takes too much time from other Hoco festivities.
“I feel like we should just get rid of the lock-in as a whole,” Hathaway said. “That’s what makes the students mad and obviously why so many don’t go.”
While some students are dissatisfied, the Homecoming Dance Planning Committee, a part of the Student Government, is working to make the event more appealing to students this year in hopes of bringing the whole school together. They’ve added some new additions to spark up the excitement.
Elle Petz ’26, head of the committee, has gone to the dance in her Freshman, Sophomore, and now Senior years and views it differently than her peers.
“I think it’s really fun, and I brought in the idea for the petting zoo, which is going to be a great addition,” Petz said. “The committee wanted to add some more fun things to do to increase attendance because usually there’s just the DJ and a photobooth, so this will be new and exciting.”
