Selah Vetter / Staff Writer
This year’s homecoming court will look different at Samford University.
The senior class will have five representatives in the homecoming court. The freshman, sophomore and junior class will only have one female and one male representative.
The homecoming court process and elections are determined by the Student Activities Council and need approval by the Student Executive Board. Claudia Stephens, the SGA vice president of events, created this new proposal.
“With support from my advisors and members of the Student Activities Council, I moved to change the current Code of Laws regarding Homecoming Court nominations and elections so that they are a better reflection of our student body and what we stand for as a University,” Stephens said.
Stephens removed the current Code of Laws. This allows her and members of the Homecoming planning team to have more flexibility. They will be able to make changes and adjustments to keep the integrity of Homecoming nomination and the election process. This change required partnership with other organizations and offices.
“The process to change the Code of Laws included conversations with the Office and Student Activities and Events, Office of Student Leadership and Involvement, Student Activities Council, and SGA Student Executive Board,” Stephens said.
Stephens hopes this change will emphasize the characters of representatives on court more.
“We want the Queen, her Escort and Court to be recognized for their exceptional character, honor and respect of others,” Stephens said.
Stephens believes these titles should entail a level of importance.
“Receiving the title of Queen and Escort should carry weight and significance and be meaningful in both the eyes of those who are nominated and the nominators from the student body,” Stephens said.
Some Samford students are in disagreement with this change. Students believe this is not an accurate representation of the student body. Freshman class president, Garret Grove, vocally opposes this change. Grove voted against the proposal within senate.
“Essentially, it has become a senior-centric event,” Grove said. “It truly will not represent the amazing underclassman within Samford’s student body.”
Grove states there are other SGA members in disagreement.
“The entire nature of the bill was even put into question by several members of Senate, including myself,” Grove said.
Samford University’s homecoming is on Nov. 9. Homecoming court elections will take place two weeks in advance.
