Homecoming has long been a tradition that has encapsulated every student at Wabash. In past years, Homecoming week typically took place later in the semester. However, this upcoming year, it has been moved up significantly and will now occur during the second week of the collegiate season. While this change may not initially seem like a major shift, it could place additional stress on the first-year students who are still trying to adjust to the demands of college life.
Although Homecoming is closer to the beginning of the semester this year, leaving less time for freshmen to learn the fight song, some Wabash men think that the fact that Homecoming ends earlier may benefit first-year students in the long run.
“I think that Chapel Sing has been a lot more intense than it would have been for me last year,” said Andrew Weeks, Mental Health Chair for Phi Gamma Delta. “I believe it’s a much quicker pace and right off the bat we were expecting them to know the fight song. People are probably a lot more stressed out. However, it might be good to get it over with too. It is really stressful, but you’re also not in the meat of the semester yet. So it may be good in the long run.”
Although Homecoming no longer falls during the busiest part of the year for first-year students, they still face the challenges of adjusting to college level classes, rushing a fraternity and trying to memorize the fight song. When those three are shortened by two weeks, it can cause higher stress.
“With the shorter Homecoming week, it has definitely accelerated the rate at which things need to get done and it adds an extra layer of stress because it’s still really early in the year, and I’m still trying to figure out how to balance classes with clubs in addition to memorizing the song,” said Nicholas Kreis ’28. “I’d say the study tables (a fraternity requirement to study together for a set amount of time) has been very beneficial for helping me and the rest of the freshmen help balance out everything else that is going on.”
However, due to the added stress put on by early Homecoming, opinions on this shift vary with some expressing the potential challenges it may pose. Especially from those who are in a position of Rush Chair or New Member Educator who have to adjust to Chapel Sing being closer than usual.
“We had to warn these guys throughout the rush process, pretty much instantly,” said Ethan Hill ’26, rush chair and new member educator for Theta Delta Chi. “We expected them to be practicing the song and to at least know portions of it. For the new member education, we have had to do longer practices than what had normally been done in the past, just to make sure the guys know the song.”
Similarly, other fraternity leaders have also had to take similar measures to help ensure that their new freshmen would succeed. Some of which require setting new expectations.
“We have certainly had to be extra cautious about how the homecoming preparations for activities and festivities are going to affect the freshmen and their mental health,” said Luis Rivera ’25, president of Lambda Chi. “Even though they are associates right now in our house, they’re students first, and that’s certainly something that we have been working to keep at the forefront of all of our decision making and planning for homecoming.”