The homecoming dance remains a hot, freaking mess — and it always will.

This year, ASB added in two air hockey tables and photo booths to the dance. According to ASB advisor, ASB’s main goal of renting the booths and tables was to entertain those who usually went anyways. However, this goal was muddled by the misinterpreted promotion videos on the announcements and caused lots of confusion for those who usually didn’t attend dances.

First, the dialogue of the video. The first two minutes and thirty seconds is all made without dialogue and mostly just shows a montage of iPhone app themed ways of asking someone out to homecoming. There really aren’t any faults in this first part. But then at the last thirty seconds of the video, the dialogue goes something like this:

“Why are you guys playing finger hockey and taking pictures of yourselves with an iPhone when you could be doing that in real life at the homecoming dance?” “I don’t have a date.” “Hold on. Does that mean there’s going to be free unlimited photo booths and air hockey tables?” “Who cares, you guys. Let’s just go!”

While I’m not blaming ASB for this confusing video, there are some confusing points brought up by this video. If students don’t have a date or don’t want to dance, are the photo booths and hockey tables set up for them? Were these updates made for people who didn’t usually go to dances?

It seemed a bit like false advertising, promising that there was plenty to do for people who didn’t like to dance. It was kind of like ordering an item from an infomercial expecting something great but when the package does come, the product disappoints.

Essentially, it seemed like the only thing we could do at the dances was to play the hockey tables or take photos in the photo booths. The video dialogue should have been changed to make the actual goal (adding another form of entertainment on top of dancing) a lot clearer.

ASB’s main goal of adding the tables and booths was purely to enhance the experience of those who usually attended dances. The Homecoming dance always will be only for those who are truly enjoy going to regular dances.