Although Homecoming is traditionally seen as a weekend crafted by and wholly dedicated to first-year students, members of the Class of 2017 will be largely barred from attending fraternity and sorority parties over the weekend due to the new policy that prohibits freshman from entering Greek houses serving alcohol for the first six weeks of school.
"I think that I will miss something during Homecoming," Julieta Feltrin '17 said. "Homecoming should have been the day that the ban was lifted."
Not all students share Feltrin's opinion. Jorge Siwady '17, a member of the swimming and diving team, said he is more focused on getting sleep than partying, as a student-athlete balancing academic and athletic demands. Another classmate Joy Shen '17 said her fall has not at all been impacted by the new policy, adding that she does not particularly care what day the policy expires.
Jonathan Beering '17, a member of the track and field team, agreed with Shen that a few extra days of the policy did not matter to him. He did add, however, that some '17s may feel constrained by the policy.
"I think it really limits who the '17s can hang out with," he said. "I definitely think that '17s are going to try to get into frats before Homecoming."
Despite feeling that she might miss some social aspects of Homecoming, Feltrin disagrees with Beering's statement.
"I think that it is a great way for the freshman to get involved in clubs," she said.
First-year students will still be able to access many social options over the weekend that do not take place in Greek spaces. One such venue for activities is the Collis Center, which boasts an active calendar of events for Homecoming weekend.
"We definitely wanted to have large events, just because it's a celebratory weekend," assistant director for Collis Center for Student Involvement David Pack said. "I think that there's an idea that some of our events are just for '17s, and certainly they are a big portion of our audience, but I think a performance by the Upright Citizens Brigade and free food and a band after the bonfire are events that can appeal to everyone."
Pack estimated that attendance at past events hosted by Collis this fall have often topped 100 students, with members of all classes participating.
"Our vision in Collis is that these events are open and inclusive and attractive to broad segments of the community," Pack said.
For some students, events like those hosted by Collis have simply not been enough to keep first-year students entertained. Rumors have spread of a floor in Russell Sage residence hall that hired strippers from Boston to celebrate a floormate's birthday certainly not a mode of entertainment that first-year residence halls have utilized prior to the new Greek policy.
"My sense was that it was for a birthday, and they thought it was funny," Walker Sales '16, a freshman undergraduate advisor on a floor not involved with the celebrations, said. "I don't think it was particularly associated [with the policy], though you might be able to argue that they need entertainment."
Sales said that reactions to the policy have been mixed among '17s.
"Some people are a little bit upset, and some people see it as a good thing since they get to bond more with each other first," Sales said.
Although many students interviewed shared this reaction, they all agreed that the week after Homecoming would likely see an influx of '17s heading out to Webster Ave.
"I feel like it makes sense why they chose those dates, but it's unwise because it will make partying go all through Homecoming weekend and the week after," Gabrielle Bozarth '17 said. She added that the policy has not negatively impacted her experience.
Greek presidents met with the Greek Leadership Council last Friday to discuss Homecoming and the following week, GLC moderator Elliot Sanborn '14 said.
