Student Senate votes to continue Homecoming pageant tradition

Note: This article was originally published in The Chanticleer, the student newspaper of Jacksonville State University, February 20, 2014. 

JSU's Student Senate on Monday night voted not to eliminate the Homecoming pageant from the usual lineup of Homecoming events for the 2014-2015 school year.
Senators Kalyn Cabral and Courtney Curtis had authorized a bill, SB-79, which would amend the way voting is conducted for Homecoming elections as well as eliminating the pageant process.
Cabral says that one reason she wanted to eliminate the pageant was to give more control to the students and not let a panel of judges determine contenders for the crown.
"I didn't like how the judges were participating," she says. "I feel like it's our Homecoming queen, it's our students, so I don't think they should be the ones to eliminate people that could possibly have won or have been good leaders."
Curtis cited the cost of putting on the pageant and lack of student participation as the other factors to be taken into consideration.
Both Curtis and Cabral stated that they believe it's time to start new traditions and end old ones.
"Out with the old, in with the new," Curtis said. "I think it's kind of old-fashioned. Not a lot of universities do a Homecoming pageant."
Debate on SB-79 lasted for about 30 minutes, with senators asking questions to the bill's authors as well as addressing the chamber with their own opinions on the bill.
"Whether we want to admit it or not, Homecoming is a popularity contest," says Senator Tyler Stone. "I don't think that having someone spend four or 500 dollars on an evening gown to get up and prance around on stage for a few minutes is either negatively or positively affect their chances of winning. The people who are known best will be the people who are going to win. The Homecoming pageant is nostalgic, but maybe it's time for something new."
The majority of senators disagreed, however. The bill was overturned 12-20, according to Vice President of the Student Senate Brett Johnson.
In other business, the Senate:
* Voted to appoint Kaleigh Williams as Student Senator for the 2013-2014 term.
* Voted to appoint Mark Hunter as Associate Justice for the 2013-2014 term.
* Was visited by Gordon Stone of the Higher Education Partnership. Stone encouraged students to attend Higher Ed Day at the state capitol in Montgomery on Thursday, February 27. Students who wish to ride the bus to Higher Ed Day may sign up in the Office of Student Life.