A journey through the years: Liberty’s homecoming time capsule

Cheerleaders. A wave of blue and green. Students screaming at the top of their lungs. All of the following have been crucial aspects of Liberty’s school spirit scene for decades. Yet, spirit this year will look a little different compared to its past spirit history. After two years in a Covid-19 pandemic, everything has changed with masked students being commonplace, a six-foot distance being the new normal, and hand sanitizer present in every classroom. Even homecoming is not immune to those changes.

“This year’s homecoming is undergoing a massive shift. There won’t be a homecoming dance, which used to be one of the biggest homecoming events,” ASB coordinator and past Liberty student Michelle Munson said.

In addition to the dance, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused another tradition to draw to a close—homecoming court.

“Homecoming court is an antiquated tradition, and it was time for Liberty to move on. Royalty only applied to a small percentage of the student body and contributed to a toxic popularity contest,” said Munson. “With the current rise of gender fluidity, it was also not an inclusive way to recognize students anymore.”

With these changes, however, come new opportunities. For the first time in years, Liberty will be hosting a pre-game tailgate. From food trucks to free facepaint, the night will be a memorable tradition to pass on to future years. 

“I think the tailgate is a really fun way to have a safe homecoming while still bringing back some school spirit,” senior and ASB Senior Class Treasurer Amira Turner said.

As generations and generations of Liberty students have experienced the highs and lows of high school, school spirit has always been a way to unite the community.

“To me, school spirit at Liberty was powerful, but it wasn’t contrived. Because Liberty was so small—under 1,000 students back then—Friday nights were an opportunity for both students and alumni to come together,” Munson said.

One way that Liberty builds such a powerful sense of community is through the traditions generations of Liberty students have created. At homecoming, one of the most memorable ones is Bod Squad. Originally started in 1988, the tradition still plays a huge role in uniting the student body.

“Bod Squad is one of the most significant experiences a student will have. Any senior boy can participate, whether they’re an athlete or a mathlete. You really see the personality of the class shine through,” social studies teacher Wes Benjamin said.

Bod Squad hasn’t changed much in the past years, but the influence of alumni has.

Thirty-five years ago, alumni were more integrated into school life. Not only would they visit the school, but they’d also participate in school activities.

“The original Grease Lightning performance used to involve alumni. All the past Liberty cheerleaders would come back for the homecoming game in their original uniforms, leading the way for the next generation of cheerleaders. It was a great way to build community,” Munson said.

While alumni may not play as big of a role as they used to in Liberty spirit, the Liberty community is unique on its own. The traditions that have continued for years give the community something to reflect upon and look forward to.

“A lot of people who live in this community never leave. Kids I went to high school with have kids who went here, and those kids are now sending their kids here. It creates a cycle,” science teacher Alisa Jeremica said. “A lot of parents will watch the homecoming game and traditions and have a chance to remember their high school glory days.” 

Often, these glory days usually refer to huge school dances. Generations ago, dances played a larger role in student life. Liberty would have five to six dances a year, with dances often happening after home football games.

“Dancing has gone through a generational shift. Going to school dances used to be the biggest way to hang out with friends and listen to music. Now, students listen to music through their phones,” Munson said. “Technology has played a massive role in how teenagers come together.”

For the past few years especially, technology has carried this high school class. So, it was no surprise that after almost two years of remote learning, many students hesitated before throwing themselves into spirit activities.

“For students, learning is already a risk in itself. The psychological safety attached to that is already a stressor for students. When spirit days are added in, there’s an even bigger risk,” Munson said. “Often, students fear being the only one dressed up.”

Despite all of these changes and fears, when you look through the years of Liberty’s history, some things will always remain the same: the sense of community Liberty provides.

“Football games are a great place for connection. There’s nothing better than getting home at 10 p.m. on a Friday night with no voice because you’ve been screaming your heart out at the game,” Turner said.