Competitor Blunders at Homerathon, Mistakes It for Different Event
In the heart of the academic year, Holy Cross has seen a flurry of events that have left students, faculty, and visitors in a state of bewilderment.
Firstly, the annual Homerathon, a 24-hour dramatic reading event, took place on April 2nd. This tradition, which began in 2017, typically sees students reading Homer's epic poems, the Iliad or Odyssey, from ancient Greece. However, this year, a twist was introduced. Richard Starkey '28, a participant, read lines not from the classical Homer, but from Homer Simpson, the modern cartoon character. This unexpected turn left some students like Cynthia Legend '27, a Chem major, assuming it was part of Homer's works, while others, like Patricia Boid '28, a Classics major, were horrified. Starkey's performance ended with a few claps from other students, who were "not entirely sure what event this was."
The Homerathon was not the only source of confusion. The issue of campus housing has been a hot topic. The Townhouses, once considered sufficient housing choices, are no longer seen as ideal. To address this, a new housing option called "The Hut" has been introduced. Caitlin Wiffler '27 wrote about this new development in an article published in "Eggplant." The article mentions that students are tired of sharing a hallway with other students, and The Hut is intended to provide more private living spaces.
Last weekend, Holy Cross welcomed prospective students during Accepted Students Day. The day was filled with tours, food trucks, and a warm welcome. Despite the confusion surrounding the Homerathon and housing changes, the campus was bustling with excitement as the future of Holy Cross was being shaped.
Meanwhile, the issue of parking on campus remains a challenge. Gaining a temporary parking pass is not easy, according to the "Parking Pass Excuses" article. This issue has led to thousands of dollars of debt from parking fines for some students.
In other news, John Harrison '25 was taken aback by Starkey's statement during the Homerathon, "You couldn't fool your mother on the foolingest day of your life if you had an electrified fooling machine." This statement, while unusual, did not deter the spirit of the Homerathon, which continues to be a cherished tradition at Holy Cross.
As the semester progresses, it seems that Holy Cross is navigating through changes and uncertainties, much like the heroes in Homer's epics.
- The unexpected twist in the Homerathon, where Richard Starkey '28 read lines from Homer Simpson instead of classical Homer, has added an intriguing element to the cherished tradition, causing mixed reactions among students, as demonstrated by Cynthia Legend '27 and Patricia Boid '28.
- The emerging pop-culture influence is evidenced in the new housing option, The Hut, which aims to cater to students' preference for more private living spaces, a shift from the traditional campus housing options.
- Amidst the flurry of events, the campus entertainment scene has not been left behind, with John Harrison '25 expressing his appreciation for the spirit of the Homerathon, despite being taken aback by one of the participants' unconventional quotes.
