By Aspyn Jones

October 5, 2009

We're not in high school anymore, but it's about that time again. It's when the girls browse through countless racks on the lookout for that perfect dress, guys wander around trying to find dates, and everyone prepares themselves for a night filled with great music, dancing, and spiked punch. Yes, it's time for homecoming.

The idea at first may seem juvenile to some, but to others, it's simply a social get-together.

“It sounds fun, and it's something to do,” said freshman Ashley Fiser.

“I wish I could go, because it sounds fun, and I've never been on a boat before,” agrees business major and fellow freshman Allie Hoehn.

It's probably the main reason tickets are so scarce. Homecoming takes place on Navy Pier's Mystic Blue Cruise liner, with a capacity of 500. Only 290 tickets were sold, which to some may seem a bit ludicrous, considering that there are about 3,000 students on campus.

"It's more than last year, and it matches the capacity of the boat," said junior Michelle Krebs, who was working the homecoming ticket booth. She continues, "We always sell out [of] tickets."

And why wouldn't they? Dances are a great way to see fellow students and make new friends. As freshman and history major Omari Davis put it, “It's a social gathering, and it gives me a chance to meet new people.”

However, not everyone is down to relive high school.  When asked if he would go, Daniel Schulz replied, “I'm not sure.” The reason? “I was done with dances in high school. It's just not the same in college.”

Commuter Rayshana Burns shares Schulz's sentiments. “I was never into going to dances.”

So with high school still fresh on the minds of many, it may drive attendees to think of homecoming as a chance to go back to the good old days of piling into a limo--or a bus--to hang out with friends, dates or just have a good time alone, singing “I'm On A Boat” at the top of their lungs.

If the promise of good music and a steady stream of dancing won’t lure you into the throes of homecoming, maybe the boat's delectable array of food will. With treats ranging from salads, casseroles, and enchiladas to fondue and cookies, the boat has a lot more to offer than just dancing to “The Lonely Island.”

Homecoming, though select in its attendees, still promises to be a fun and adventurous event for Elmhurst students, and with all of the festivities on the sea, it makes for an even better time.