That sign you tripped over on Sanford mall, the flyer that was blowing in the wind while taped to the bus stop and even that kid who sits next to you in your 8 a.m. classes t-shirt.

Reminders of the upcoming election cannot be avoided.

Yes, it is the first time that many of us will vote in a presidential election.

Yes, we should research the candidates online, discuss them in our classes, watch skits about them on Saturday Night Live, and actually care about their views on issues that affect the country where we live.

Yes, we understand it is very important, but so important that it has to represent our university’s homecoming celebration?

No.

If you have not yet heard, Appalachian State University’s 2008 homecoming theme is “Yosef/Moore: A Rock Solid Ticket.”

Some may argue that Yosef/Moore would be a better choice for the presidential ticket than the other candidates, but that is not the point.

Homecoming is a time where anyone and everyone associated with Appalachian is welcomed to gather in Boone and celebrate our university.

Floats are designed, lip sync dances are performed and tailgates are decorated all representing Appalachian and the current year’s theme.

I suppose the homecoming committee really wanted to challenge students this year, especially with coming up with songs to lip sync about an election, but were they so set on the idea to not give organization representatives a chance to vote on the theme like years past?

For 2007’s “007: License to Win,” 2006’s “Rock the Rock” and 2005’s “Aloha Appalachian,” homecoming representatives for each organization (the people that put all of the hard work into making homecoming competitive and exciting) were given multiple themes and instructed to vote for their favorite.

For 2008, the challenging theme was just handed to us.

For 2004’s “Mountaineer Mardi Gras,” the intense Bush/Kerry competition was put on hold to enjoy a light-hearted Mardi Gras celebration.
College students are generally very passionate about politics and the candidates they support.

We debate about them in class, on Facebook or just in casual conversations.

Why not take a break from thinking about the election and jointly celebrate one thing we all agree on: Appalachian.

Now, some may argue we are supposed to unite and celebrate the Yosef/Moore ticket, which I have no doubt that our spirited student body will, but the election themed homecoming still remains to keep students divided between political parties, issues and candidates.

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