What do Scooby Doo, 70’s disco dancers, firefighters, Justin Bieber and Anchorman all have in common? The answer: Jesuit Homecoming.
On the night of October 24, 2015, an endless stream of excited juniors and seniors filed into the front entrance of Alumni Hall, prepared to have the time of their lives, sporting the above costumes and others like them. This was the night of Jesuit’s junior and senior Homecoming dance, a dance annually planned, set up, and taken down by Jesuit’s Student Council, a dance to be remembered.
Homecoming tonight! Doors open at 7pm! #jezhoco pic.twitter.com/wdMJrqS4H9
— JCP Student Council (@JesuitStuCo) October 24, 2015
Because the event arrived just days before Halloween and last year’s dance received such great reviews, Jesuit’s Student Council agreed that this year’s theme should, again, be Halloween, allowing seniors the right of passage to dress up in some ridiculous costumes. Student Body Vice-President Rusty Landon ‘16, who sported a Justin Bieber costume, believed that the dance itself was “pretty fun, especially being able to see people outside of the school environment, who I normally wouldn’t see.” Of course, there were some adversities the student government club had to overcome, challenges such as determining each member’s responsibilities, coordinating all the different decorations that they had to use and how to get the decorations on site. Luckily, though, Student Council received a great turnout of extra volunteers to help expedite the setup process, that ultimately provided Jesuit and Ursuline students with an uncompromising experience of spooky Halloween decorations and entertainment.
During the dance, students participated in a wide variety of entertainment, from the DJ and laser light show on the dance floor in the Terry Center to casino tables and catered Buffalo Wild Wings in the cafeteria. Students even had the opportunity to visit a photo booth outside the Terry Center, to take goofy, self-portraits with their friends. One senior, Sam Betanzos, spent much of his time on the dance floor and really shined while busting out a move to the funky song “September” by the band Earth, Wind & Fire, as part of the requirements for wearing his self-proclaimed, “baller 70’s disco dancer with flared, bell-bottomed pants.” In addition to the song “September”, the song “Sandstorm” by Darude created a rippling effect among the upperclassmen, who rejoiced in the highly anticipated song after they were denied its performance during last year’s prom.
By the end of the night, it was evident that Homecoming was a massive hit and that many of the students who attended truly appreciated the opportunity to enjoy a relaxing evening. Senior Josh Thias explains that “going to the dance and dressing up as firefighter really helped me get out of my normal skin. It provided a chance for me to spend more time with my friends, and I really needed that after juggling a long week of AP classes, swimming and extracurricular clubs.” Thus, the students who attended the dance arrived with the mindset that it was just another high school dance but left with the feeling of being reenergized and ready to take on their remaining years of high school.
