Campus Life | October 9th, 2024

If You’re Reading This, We’re Still Waiting

By: Jaedah Davis | Staff Writer

Florida A&M University students are filled with anticipation as the reveal of their 2024 Homecoming lineup has been delayed another week.

This year, FAMU’s Homecoming theme is “The Experience: Remember the Times.” According to the official homecoming website, the artist reveal for the annual concert was set for Oct. 3. 

Yet, without explanation, the release date was pushed back to Oct. 10. 

While schools like North Carolina A&T University, Morgan State University, Savannah State University, etc., have released their homecoming lineups promptly, Rattlers have been waiting quite impatiently for theirs.

Majai Finley, a third-year psychology student, is “very angry and disappointed” about the delay. 

“The concert is supposed to be the highlight of homecoming,” Finley said. “To not say anything or explain the delay is just disappointing.”

Many students have expressed displeasure with previous concert announcements and now expect redemption from the university or, instead, the Student Government Association. SGA was not available to comment at this time.

However, members of the student body had a lot to say. 

Jah’mal Lapomarel, a fourth-year broadcast journalism scholar, voices his take on the issue.

“FAMU has this tendency where we wait ’til the last minute to put things together, hence the reason why our last two homecomings have not been the best,” Lapomarel said. “For you to announce [the date] to the student body and then go back and delay that information automatically doesn’t make me trust you.” 

FAMU homecoming is known to be an experience, one that many are eager to come back to once they graduate. 

WXTL ABC 27 reported that before the COVID-19 pandemic, FAMU’s homecoming “brought over 10,000 visitors and $3.5 million in local economic impact.” With the hold-up of such a big part of that experience, minus the football game, alums are also confused by the setback. Some may even say that FAMU’s homecoming culture has changed. 

Recent graduate Justin Brown (Class of 2022) seems to think anticipation has “died down.”

“Even talking to other alums, a lot of folks don’t seem as excited about homecoming,” Brown said. “I’m hearing that more people are planning to attend the [Florida Blue Florida] Classic rather than Hoco.”

Though Brown has made this observation, he considers himself a die-hard Rattler and believes that anybody who considers themselves as such will show up no matter what.

“FAMU homecoming will continue to attract a large crowd,” Brown said. “While the culture has changed, the pride and spirit of Rattler Nation remains unwavering.”

Despite inflamed passions about the musical aspect of homecoming, others aren’t entirely stressed about the outcome. While he understands that this issue matters, fourth-year scholar Jaydan Harley is unphased by the news.

“I’m not too upset about it [the delay] because we’ve had complications with artists in the past,” Harley said. “As long as we get a decent lineup, I’m cool with it.”

When asked what artists they would like to see at the homecoming concert, students answered Gunna, PartyNextDoor, Glorilla, Sexyy Red, Brent Faiyaz and more. Two of these artists have been booked by other schools, leaving FAMU with the potential to have a unique lineup. Some students are beginning to speculate whether SGA is buying themselves more time to finalize a deal or if they have yet to find someone.

As the countdown to FAMU Homecoming 2024 continues, one thing is clear — the student body will not be happy if the homecoming concert lineup is not up to par after the long wait. 

As Lapomarel said, “Our brand is ‘The Experience,’ but what experience are we actually providing if they’re not listening to our student body and not providing good lineups that we’re asking for?”