Spirit Week: Corsair Homecoming to be revamped

Homecoming for the average college would consist of tailgates, football, and drunken activities full of debauchery. Homecoming dances are also a common theme as well as pregame parties. However, Santa Monica College is offering an alternative for students to still have fun and stay out of trouble.

Every year SMC has a homecoming, but students often miss the meaning being at a community college. Past offerings have included “Homecoming Idols,” faculty vs. staff football games, and various other activities with low turnouts. The new homecoming committee hopes to change that this year with a whole new game plan.

Some of the newest offerings that are unique to this homecoming include Tired Tuesday, College Wear Wednesday, a DJ, face painter, carnival games, movie night, poster competition for the clubs, and a tailgating picnic before the game with trick-or-treating for kids.

All of this work comes from a diverse homecoming committee consisting of faculty, staff, and students, a group that hasn’t existed in the past committees. “Everyone has different knowledge, expertise, and ideas, which has made all the difference,” said Alexandra Breschensbauer, Associated Students director of Student Outreach.

The homecoming committee is currently working on flyering over 17,000 homes in the Santa Monica neighborhood, specifically the 90404 and 90405 zip codes.

“We want to attract as many students as possible, and we also want to reach out to the community,” said Breschensbauer.

This year, instead of students paying for their admission to the homecoming game the Athletic department has decided to gift the tickets and students will all be able to get free admission for the game.

This effort will also attempt to up attendance records for the football games and show the Athletic Department support.

There will be a series of events happening throughout spirit week, many unique to spirit week as a whole and of course Club Row which always falls around Halloween. This year’s Club Row theme is “Throwback to the Future,” featuring over 50 new clubs looking to recruit new members.

If school spirit isn’t your interest, there will be opportunities to win prizes at the homecoming game through entering a raffle or the goal kickoff during the game. By entering those competitions you could win an ipad or a $1000 bookstore voucher. Prior to the homecoming game, there will be a tailgate picnic on the campus quad full of carnival activities, trick or treating, food trucks, a DJ, balloon and henna tattoo artists.

Students from SMC’s broadcasting class will have the opportunity to act as announcers to pump everyone up during the game and the tailgate picnic. At halftime, Santa Monica High School’s Marching Band will perform to further get the crowd going.

During the game, SMC will face off with the LA Southwest Cougars where the Corsairs hope to continue their undefeated streak against the Cougars.

The homecoming-spirit week events have come together in a way for more students to participate. With the help of the Athletic department, AS, alumni, faculty and staff, each element of the homecoming is coming together.

“We want to put SMC on the map even more since we all are very proud to be SMC,” said Breschensbauer.