Why the University of Tennessee has no Homecoming Queen
November 14, 2015 5:58 AM Subscribe
In 1970, Vince Staten was the humor columnist for the campus newspaper The Daily Beacon. He made a passing joke to David Williams, the news editor, that rumors of Staten's run for homecoming queen were not true. The next day the Beacon featured the headline, "Staten Denies Running for Homecoming Queen." And Staten's un-candidacy took flight from there.
In the early 1970s, UT students were pushing back agains the dominance of fraternities and sororities on campus. Staten's accidental campaign to become Homecoming Queen (he wore a paper bag on his head for public appearances) gave voice to unaffiliated students' discontent.
He won the vote 2512 - 310, but was later disqualified, not because he was a man, but because he was a graduate student. The University administration took note of the debacle. There have been intermittent attempts to revive the Homecoming Queen tradition in various forms, but none has gained much traction.
Vince Staten was recently inducted into the East Tennessee Writers Hall of Fame for his 14 (he claims 13.8) non-fiction humorous books. WUOT (public radio) interviewed Staten in honor of the 45th anniversary of his being crowned Homecoming Queen.
In the early 1970s, UT students were pushing back agains the dominance of fraternities and sororities on campus. Staten's accidental campaign to become Homecoming Queen (he wore a paper bag on his head for public appearances) gave voice to unaffiliated students' discontent.
He won the vote 2512 - 310, but was later disqualified, not because he was a man, but because he was a graduate student. The University administration took note of the debacle. There have been intermittent attempts to revive the Homecoming Queen tradition in various forms, but none has gained much traction.
Vince Staten was recently inducted into the East Tennessee Writers Hall of Fame for his 14 (he claims 13.8) non-fiction humorous books. WUOT (public radio) interviewed Staten in honor of the 45th anniversary of his being crowned Homecoming Queen.
Hey, that's my hometown and I didn't know any of this! Thanks for the post.
posted by WidgetAlley at 8:55 AM on November 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by WidgetAlley at 8:55 AM on November 14, 2015 [2 favorites]
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But they've had "Miss Homecoming" events sporadically right up to this decade.
I don't even know that the differences between a miss and a queen, but, really, who cares. The whole homecoming nonsense is embarrassing.
posted by clvrmnky at 6:25 AM on November 14, 2015 [3 favorites]