Homecoming: a first hand glance

By Nathan Campbell
Online Editor
I approach the check-in table outside the conference room in the Marriott Hotel where homecoming was this year. Anxiously, I inch forward with my homecoming ticket in hand. I have been waiting in line for almost half an hour as I watch an altercation between the party in front of me and the event staff unfold.
Apparently, the four girls did not have tickets to the event - a new feature this year to ensure that the event space would not be filled past capacity and were angered at the fact that they had just waited in the long winding line only to be turned down at the door.
With only a modicum of interest I noticed that a male behind the table - presumably one of the homecoming event staff members - was yelling at the girls on the other side to the point of being physically restrained by a female companion to his right.
Right then, I knew that this year's homecoming was going to be different from the past four I have attended at CSUB.
This year would be different anyhow, because ten days earlier I had been presented at a basketball game as a nominee for the illustrious title of homecoming king, along with a good friend of mine - Eddy Lee.
Nominee or not, I was not wanting to miss this year's homecoming, because it would hopefully be my last as a student, so I made sure to get a ticket the Monday before the dance. I was surprised to hear that the tickets were nearly out - and indeed, did run out several days before the event.
That seemed to be the biggest frustration I heard from my fellow classmates, and their guests, in the wait to reach the front of the line at the Marriott. I was standing in front of some members of the Phi Sigma Sigma sorority who were pretty distraught that many of their sisters were unable to attend, because they had not known about the shortage of tickets.
This was even true of Angie Gonzalez and Suzanne Mendoza who were the past homecoming queen and queen nominee respectively, who had to find a way to arrange entrance to the event after the tickets were all given out.
While waiting in line, I could not help but notice a member of ASi and his date walk straight past the line and into the dance after being told that members of ASi did not have to check in. I guess position has its privileges.
Once inside, the homecoming looked much like last years -even down to the casino games, which seem to become a staple of CSUB events.
The hors d'oeuvres seemed a bit sparser, which seems to be a trend as I remember my first homecoming including a full buffet style meal.
At midnight, the king and queen were announced - Jamaal Tolbert and Wendy Martinez won. Soon after, the dance began to empty out. I saw a shoeless girl leaning on her friend for stability as they hobbled out of the hotel - an apparent victim to over indulgence of the two onsite cash bars.
So if you missed homecoming, because you didn't get a ticket, or were those girls who got turned down at the door or just weren't clever enough to sneak in like a number of individuals I know - that was essentially it.
I can honestly say you didn't miss much.