Challenging Tradition

This year, Northern Arizona University students decided to change tradition. Though this particular university ritual permeates many campuses during Homecoming, it is not without questionable elements. Because of a forward thinking student body, the NAU campus was able to challenge embedded gender roles. I’m talking of course about changing the tradition of homecoming king and queen.

As of this year, students at Northern Arizona University voted to change from crowing a homecoming “king” and “queen” to “homecoming royalty.” This action was prompted when female student Kathleen Short decided to run for king while male student Tony Pena ran for queen. Short claimed that running for king “just felt right.” Pena was inspired by Short’s example, saying “”I’m not the masculine man or the most machismo man, naturally, my personality and character are more fitting to queen.” These actions were not meant to any kind of larger statement. They simply reflected students going against norms.

However, these changes do have larger implications. The Northern Arizona student body largely agreed that the traditional gender roles of king and queen were outdated. This challenge to tradition has begun to gain national attention.

So why does this matter? And what is really gained? I’d argue that although these students did not intend to make a strong political or social statement, they did. These actions and the subsequent student body reaction speaks to hope and equality. More and more, challenges to gender norms and individuals who do not fit the traditional male/female roles are being discussed by society. I hardly need to bring up the fact that as a greater segment of the population moves toward increased acceptance, others push hard against change.

Enter college students. People old enough to vote, form opinions, and influence society. Though I can be cynical as to the amount of awareness, drive, and involvement of the average college student, I also realize that we collectively will shape the future. The attitudes of NAU students give me hope that challenges to gender norms can someday be seen as commonplace and not something to be feared and fought.

At the end of the day, academia can be one of the most forward thinking and progressive elements of society. If there is one important lesson that students can take from undergraduate education, it’s to question everything. In this case, students questioned why tradition mandated a male king and female queen. The answer was that there is really no reason besides tradition– thus it was time for a change in order to accept and recognize the reality of society. A good lesson that can applied to more than just a football homecoming…