Karnathan | Banning Homecoming parties will not build sports spirit

The Daily Pennsylvanian reported this earlier this week Penn’s ban on daytime parties during Homecoming, a decision that was met with significant resistance from the leaders of the university’s Greek organizations.

Instead, students are encouraged to attend a university-sponsored tailgate that will take place concurrently with Penn Football’s game against Harvard; it is part of the official Homecoming programming with which registered events, such as parties, should not conflict. While the university cited limited support staff as the reason for its decision, the secondary motivation is clear: getting students into the stands.

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Like attending sporting events at Penn decreased in recent yearsthe cancellation of the Quakers’ primary Homecoming game is the latest in a series of university efforts to rejuvenate student support. But in making this decision, Penn is ignoring the key ingredient that makes sports so popular on other campuses across the country: connection.

While fans at Penn State and Texas flood the stands on home game days because their social culture revolves around them, Penn is trying to gain that broad support by doing away with the student body’s preferred alternative. While this move may bring a slight increase in student numbers, it will do little to quell the school’s problems in the long run, marking another misstep in the university’s efforts to revitalize the student section to blow.

During my time at Penn, I attended numerous Quaker sporting events season openers Unpleasant Ivy League Championships. As such, I will be the first to tell you that the school’s sporting spirit is clearly lacking; the average student probably couldn’t tell you who Aidan Sayin is, and opposing fans routinely outnumber the Red and Blue faithful at home football games. It’s easy to view the fanatical sporting culture at other schools across the country with a hint of envy, especially when you work for the governing body that has a stake in the game.

For its part, Penn Athletics has not pushed back on the issue. The school routinely hosts promotions and giveaways designed to attract students to the stadium, offering rewards from video game consoles to Nike apparel. Most events offer free admission to Penn Card holders. These efforts are comprehensive, but still fall short of breaking down the most important barrier to student enthusiasm: interest.

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In general, Penn students are apathetic towards athletics. While it hasn’t always been this way, modern campus culture has definitely shifted from bleachers and buzzers to student events like parties. Homecoming remains a day of great student gatherings, but the stage for that camaraderie is fraternity backyards instead of Franklin Field.

This makes canceling daytime parties not only an overreach by the university, but also a misguided attempt to solve the current problem. The indifference of Penn students toward Quaker sports is an enduring sentiment, one that will not be overturned by direct intervention from an authoritative body. The term “university-sponsored” on the front of the Homecoming tailgate has an immediate dampening effect, especially when the event costs up to $20 per ticket for those with alcohol wristbands, and takes place against the backdrop of the cancellation of the parties.

There are several more likely outcomes following the university’s decision. The first is that parties will leave campus – many Greek organizations have satellite houses that are not subject to the same restrictions as on-campus locations. These events provide the types of gatherings that students prefer, but also impose additional burdens on campus support staff due to the lack of official registration.

The second, and perhaps more expensive, is the elimination of the campus’ ability to unite. At a university with minimal school spirit, Homecoming represents a rare opportunity for the student body to unite among the Red and Blue – an opportunity that may be in jeopardy as the most popular tradition faces opposition from the university.

I hope that in time Penn will regain his sense of sports enthusiasm. But if it does, it will be because students see the stands as a place to connect to campus, and not because the university has closed all other avenues. The Red and Blue deserve more support, but trying to force the student body’s hand is the wrong way to get it.

HIKER CARNATHAN is a junior and current DP Sports Editor studying English and Film and Media Studies from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. All comments should be addressed to [email protected].