Homecoming committee members rallied at Wednesday’s ASUI meeting to oppose a recent resolution regarding the discontinuation of the long-standing tradition of Homecoming fireworks.
ASUI presented a resolution Wednesday to discontinue the Homecoming fireworks show over health and environmental concerns.
Marie Duncan, co-advisor to the Homecoming committee, spoke during the meeting’s open forum on her and her committee’s disappointment in the ASUI resolution to discontinuing fireworks. Duncan said she felt the fireworks helped make Homecoming the success it has been for years.
She said before the first fireworks show in 2007, both Serpentine and the bonfire did not require the crowd control, road closures or police escorts currently needed.
Although she thanked everyone for their work and updated the ASUI Senate on the increased participation in Homecoming events, Duncan said she felt “disillusioned” about the amount of effort put in by the committee only to be met with opposition to the fireworks.
“Students put a lot of work into the whole week, a lot of event and safety planning,” Duncan said in an interview after Wednesday’s meeting.
Sponsor of the resolution, ASUI Sen. Joe Garrett, said the resolution is not a ban, but a political statement of the student body. Garrett also said there will be amendments made to address the concerns.
ICYMI: UI to get campus-central Student Union Building
Garrett gave reasons for the support behind discontinuing the fireworks.
“We need to recognize the harmful effects they bring,” Garrett said.
Garrett named polluntants, unintended health consequences, noise affecting PTSD victims and wildlife harm as the harmful effects.
Resolution creator, ASUI Sen. Mary Alice Taylor, emphasized the point from Garrett that amendments need to be made to the resolution before the vote takes place during next week’s meeting at 7 p.m. Oct. 30. Taylor said the Homecoming committee should look for alternatives to the fireworks.
“Tradition is Homecoming in and of itself, not just the fireworks,” Taylor said.
She said she would like the community to understand the resolution is saying Vandal pride can still be shown without fireworks. Duncan responded by saying the Homecoming committee is open to suggestions for replacements, but these suggestions come with their own obstacles.
“There is a lot of coordination and moving pieces around that would need to be considered,” Duncan said.
There were questions from the ASUI senate regarding the resolution as well. ASUI Sen. Aaron Bharucha began a colloquy, or discussion, with Taylor to address his questions regarding the resolution. During this discussion it was revealed the Homecoming committee did not have this resolution shown to them prior to the ASUI meeting.
This was supported by Duncan, who said she was made aware of this resolution around 4 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
Regarding statistics to support her resolution, Taylor did not have concrete numbers to present to the Senate at the time. ASUI Sen. Travis Kerr asked if there were any statistics regarding negatively affected community members nationwide or locally, but Taylor said the website she looked at did not have any numbers to report.
Several of the senators voiced concerns over the wellbeing of individuals with PTSD and other disabilities triggered by loud noises. ASUI Sen. Julie Attinger reminded the meeting members a good portion of the student body and alumni are made up of veterans.
Duncan also said the Homecoming committee recognizes there are individuals with PTSD and other health concerns. The Homecoming committee releases warnings through event announcements to the public regarding health concerns.
Regarding the environmental concerns, Duncan said they are required to follow every law connected to fireworks. They also have the environmental club from the high school do cleanup for the fireworks.
The Senate still has much to consider regarding amendments to the resolution before voting. If the resolution passes voting next week, it is an expression of the sentiments of the Senate, not an official ban law.
“ASUI should be reflective of the student body, and the committee feels that a resolution like that wouldn’t accurately reflect the student body,” Duncan said.
Rachele Catt can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @RACHELE_CATT
Matthew Friesz
As a 2014 alum and USMC veteran of OIF, I have difficulty understanding where this resolution is coming from. There is nothing backing up this "political statement" other than the whims of a few students on the Senate. Ask most veterans out there that DO suffer from PTSD; they would rather people are allowed enjoy their freedoms rather than being used as justification to impose limits other's activities. I'd also like to point out that Homecoming is an event as much for us alumni as it is for current students, the committee should be the only ones to have a say on what goes on during this time. I hope reason prevails, and this resolution is struck down.
James McConnell
I think Rachele Catt did a Great coverage of the debated fireworks !