Students rally for Homecoming change

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Students rally for Homecoming change

By Azeez Bhavnagarwala
News Staff

Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and state legislators rallied together at the Kessler Campanile on Monday, May 20, in an attempt to send a clear message to the administration, the Board of Regents, the state of Georgia, and the rest of the world: Alienation of any part of the student body is not acceptable.

"This is not about Jews. This is not about Yom Kippur," said Rabbi Louis Feldstein at the rally. "To alienate any part of the campus community is wrong and makes for an illegitimate message," he continued.

The rally was organized by a coalition of campus student organizations to move Homecoming, currently scheduled on Yom Kippur, to a later date. Yom Kippur is a time of peace and atonement for Jews, who will be unable to participate in the annual Homecoming festivities if Homecoming is not rescheduled.

"Today we have reached a milestone regarding diversity on campus," stated Stephanie Ray, Associate Dean of Diversity. "We're part of a democracy, and everyone in a democracy has the right to be heard."

Georgia Senator Don Balfour (R 9th District) applauded the student body for coming together and encouraged them to join him in writing the Board of Regents and key government officials to change the date. He mentioned that he had season tickets and said, "I give you my commitment that I will not be here unless they change the date."

The administration is currently considering rescheduling the Homecoming game to Thursday, October 30, as well as changing the style of homecoming this year, according to Dave Skinner, Undergraduate Student Body President.

Regarding the inconvenience that will accompany scheduling Homecoming on Thursday, Feldstein commented, "There's a difference between having a choice and not having any choice at all."

Feldstein continued, "By holding [Homecoming] on October 11th, you are saying to people, `you cannot come.' If I am a committed religious person, I cannot come. There is no choice here. If I am an alumnus and it's on a Thursday, I can choose. It may be more inconvenient, but I can come. It's not a question of my being who I am and what I am."

"We want to make the right decision and not necessarily the one that's less inconvenient," commented Skinner. "We all have to get together and let the administration know that October 11 is not right by us." However, he cautioned, "Even though the date may not change, and there is a distinct possibility that it will not, we must maintain a positive outlook if we want them to listen to us."

Organizers of the rally urged students to contact the Georgia Tech administration and the Board of Regents to encourage them to change the date.