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[00:00:41] Jasmine: Hi everybody, my name is Jazmine Patrick, I'm a sophomore English major from Chicago, Illinois, and we are welcoming you to this second For The Record episode titled, Homecoming Wouldn't Be Homecoming Without. Hi everyone, 

[00:00:52] Janae: my name is Shanae Wilson. I am a junior at Spelman College, English major from the Archival Department of the Blue Record.

[00:00:59] [00:01:00] And today we have a special guest, Ms. Shauna Grant, who is the Director of Comms for the Blue Record. 

[00:01:05] Shana: Hi guys, thank you so much for having me. My name is Shawna Alyssa Grant. I am a graduating, thank you, emphasis on the graduating, senior, comparative, women studies major, with a concentration in health, and a minor in theater performance from Washington, D.

[00:01:18] C. And like they said before, I am serving as the director of communications for the Blue Record. 

[00:01:23] Janae: So everyone, we just wrapped up Homecoming. How are you guys feeling? 

[00:01:27] Shana: My body is in shambles, guys. 

[00:01:30] Jasmine: Exactly. For real. What did y'all go to? What events? 

[00:01:35] Janae: I went to everything except for the hip hop concert, which we will get into because I have some thoughts and feelings, but let's start on the positive.

[00:01:46] The tailgate was my favorite part because I got to see all the alumna and all the students interact with each other, and even though it was, , A blazing 80 something degrees out with a big crowd of people. I had an amazing [00:02:00] time with my friends and some family 

[00:02:03] Shana: Yeah, I would agree tailgate was it for me.

[00:02:05] my week I had made a schedule guys. I made an entire itinerary. I was like, yeah, i'm gonna go to this this this every party I had everything lined up money was spent And I only made it really to tailgate just because life started lifing but It was great to see alum. It was great to see my friends that graduated last year.

[00:02:23] It was great to see family. It was great to see, or people I consider to be family. It was great to see my friends. I also had friends from home come to visit me for Tailgate, so it was just a great time. And it really got to show me, the legacy of Spellhouse and how I'm the newest part of that legacy and soon will be, you know, in the alumni status in the other side of college, so it was really great.

[00:02:45] Jasmine: I definitely feel you, Shawna. I think for every homecoming, it's important to be intentional about that schedule. Because the last thing you want to do is go, be out there, have a good time. The next week, you look at your grades in banner, and you're like, what [00:03:00] in the world? But, I would say, you know, I had a good time as well.

[00:03:03] I didn't get out as much as I wanted to, but... Yeah, I had a really good homecoming. I love seeing the alumna there. I really appreciated the encouragement that I received. It's keeping me going towards the end of the semester. And yeah, now that we have recounted on, our experience with homecoming, let's get into that hip hop concert that Janae was talking about for a little bit.

[00:03:27] So, what artists do we have? 

[00:03:29] Janae: So we had Veeze, we had Young Nudy, Durkio Smurkio, exactly, Lil Durk, and When they announced it, I was like, oh cool, because they announced the homecoming concert first And I know a lot of people like Durk. I'm not a big fan Personally, same. Yeah, Nudy was cool because you know, we're in Atlanta.

[00:03:51] So that was cool for the people who Like him like that again It's not my vibe, you know I'm, [00:04:00] I'm a girl's girl. I, I, I am. I really like female artists. Specifically female rappers. Cause I can, I can relate to it. I can get into it, but I don't know, it just seems like male dominated the entire thing. What do y'all think?

[00:04:18] Shana: I would agree. I'm not even a, I'm not gonna lie and say I'm a rap girlie. I like to sing, so whatever I can sing to, I'm gonna listen to. I was gonna go to the concert. I was ready to go. and then, well, I wasn't ready to go. I didn't buy the ticket guys. The, I couldn't part with the $70. I couldn't, I couldn't.

[00:04:36] We're on a budget. We're college budget. And I was like, last year I spent $15 to go see Drake. Did you what? Well, 'cause I bought the package. Ah. So $45 package. Oh. And you've divide that. But every event, I only really spent $15. I'm doing the, I'm doing the big girl math. Oh, the girl math. Okay. Girl math.

[00:04:53] Girl math. Right. The girl math. Yeah. So I'm like, why am I spending 15 to see Drake? And Trinidad James, [00:05:00] and Yung Duvall, you know what I'm saying? Like, all these people, I'm spending 70 to listen to artists I don't listen to. So I was like, I couldn't, at the end of the day, I couldn't part with the money.

[00:05:08] Jasmine: Right. And I don't want to, come for Pulse or CASA, at all. obviously they put a lot of effort into what they did for us for Homecoming. But, you know, we see the patriarchy every day. And the reason why we're at Spelman is so we can be in a bubble where we can see What matriarchal figures look like when they're really doing their thing?

[00:05:31] So for us to go out and enjoy ourselves and only see a male lineup I mean, it's it kind of doesn't sit well with me So that's why I 

[00:05:42] Shana: didn't go. No, like especially when women are really running the rap game right now Exactly. So many women headlining at number one so many It's just so many women coming out of rap right now, and I feel like we didn't even have to get like, a big artist that got 50 million hits.

[00:05:59] We could have [00:06:00] got, up and coming artists, and we could have been like, oh, we seen them before they was like that. Right. 

[00:06:05] Jasmine: Right, and we can't even sit here and act like black women have not been in the game for years. Forever. I mean, look at Queen Latifah, Missy Elliott, Nicki, Da Brat. Like, we have them, and we're continuing to have them, so why are we not putting them on the pedestal that they deserve, you know?

[00:06:26] Janae: Especially going to an all women's college, we want to see someone who we can see ourselves in, and I feel like men can see themselves in everything because they are involved in everything, which is great, you want to raise black men up, but you also want to raise black women up as we do to you.

[00:06:47] What did you guys think of the R& B concert? 

[00:06:51] Shana: I did not go. No, but I regret it. 

[00:06:55] Janae: The only person I saw was, like, DVSN, the guy that performed. 

[00:06:59] Yeah. [00:07:00] Yeah, I didn't know who he was, did you? 

[00:07:02] Jasmine: I did. You did? I did, and I was like, oh, my heart. Yeah, I don't know why I have afternoon classes, so, you know. The schedule was not scheduling.

[00:07:12] But yeah, I think we definitely can do better when it comes to misogyny prompted, within the concerts that we have. 

[00:07:21] Janae: That R& B concert, it was a good time. I had a I didn't know who he was, but a friend of mine did. So I was like, okay, I can listen to his music beforehand, but even if I don't know who someone is when I go to an event, I'm still gonna vibe to the music.

[00:07:34] I may not know the words, but I might Find something that I might like later on, you know, but y'all want to know some tea about that concert. Yes Oh my gosh, so he was performing and he's a great vocalist. By the way. I had a really good time listening to him I was like, wow, this guy's really talented Right.

[00:07:52] I mean, you know, I'm moving in my seat I didn't get up or anything because like I didn't want to like I didn't know the words, but it's fine My friends. I was [00:08:00] vibing. he maybe had a song or two left and people started to walk out. I hate that. I was like What's going on? Why are you guys leaving?

[00:08:11] And it just trickled one by one and I turned my head and half the auditorium is gone. So my friends and I were like, you know, clapping really loudly, cheering him on really loud because he was singing as people were walking out because I know that he saw it. And I felt really bad because it's one thing for you to walk out of a concert when the artist, is not doing a good job.

[00:08:33] It's another thing to walk out when he's, singing like when his life depends on it. It was a really good show. I felt terrible though. 

[00:08:42] Shana: I feel like they almost set him up to fail though because he's not a headliner. He's a great vocalist. I know a couple of DVSN songs. I didn't make it because of a lot of things that was going on in my life and I was, I had a ticket ready.

[00:08:55] I was ready to go, but he's not a headliner. He's the opening act. 

[00:08:59] Jasmine: Do you think he [00:09:00] should have been a headliner? 

[00:09:02] Shana: I think, yeah, I feel like that's what they failed him, cause he's not mainstream enough for people to know all his songs, or people to know at least one of his songs. DVSN I feel like is real low key, and you got to be deep in your R& B bag to find him.

[00:09:15] Especially his, his really popular project that came out what, four or five years ago? So he wasn't the headliner. And I feel like that's what they set him up to fail. Had he been the opening act, people might have left the concert and been like, Ooh, let me listen to him because he can actually sing.

[00:09:29] I think people left were like, Yeah, I don't know these songs. Slow jams is right after this, let me get ready. people were not ready to stay for the amount of time that he was going to sing, so. Yeah, 

[00:09:38] Jasmine: I mean, I think... In this day and age that it is a bit common for us to not really appreciate the gifts that people have because people are putting so much out into media that we're so overwhelmed and kind of become desensitized to the amount of effort that people put into their work.

[00:09:56] But I think also as students, we also need to take into [00:10:00] account that someday is going to be our work that's out there on the streets. And other generations are going to be listening to it. So, I think we also need to just keep that in mind.

[00:10:15] Let's get into homecoming in the past. I know Janae's a junior and we have a, a senior on deck. Yes. Graduating senior. Tell me about homecoming, y'all. Well, you have a lot more. 

[00:10:29] Shana: Yeah, so my freshman year was the year of COVID. I'm class of 24. And they had Wale come, and it was like a virtual concert. And I'm from D. C., so yeah, I went to go see Wale online. It was real cool. He did a great job. He got an encore. And then, but it wasn't homecoming. It was a... Taste of what homecoming could be. And then we come sophomore year, and I'm like, Ooh, we finna have homecoming for the first time. And then they canceled it because [00:11:00] COVID cases rise, and they had a fall fest.

[00:11:02] And, again, it wasn't homecoming. It was just some kind of events in the fall. And then junior year. Mm, mm, mm. Last year, y'all. I, me personally, I am a Y2K 90s head. I love Neyo Down. So when they said Neyo was coming, I didn't really care that everybody wasn't really... wanting to see him. I was there. I was ready.

[00:11:23] I had I was like, let me listen to all his discography Let me get myself prepared. Let me make sure that I got all the words, right? So when I got to the concert, I was on it like I love seeing Neyo I actually went to go see him like a month ago because I like actually really enjoy seeing Neyo and he puts on a great Show so that was really really good for me.

[00:11:39] And then the hip hop concert last year was really cool It was just cool that We got to see all the artists like I'm not really a big 21 fan I don't really listen to rap like that, like I said before, but just being able to like, see a lot of childhood artists like Lil Yachty came, like that was random, and it was cool.

[00:11:55] and that was really, really cool, and I got to just fellowship with my friends, which is always a great time. [00:12:00] And then Tailgate last year. Some things had happened last year and I didn't make the tailgate on time. but I really got to live in tailgate this year, so I'm not mad. I don't know, I feel like over the four years I've had one big homecoming experience that's been great.

[00:12:13] I put all the pieces together. 

[00:12:14] Janae: Last year was my first official homecoming. Like I said, I'm a junior, so I was a sophomore at the time. My freshman year, I didn't, there was an event, but I didn't go for some reason. I just, I don't think it appealed to me. But, the announcement. First, they announced Neyo, and people in the crowd, I saw the videos, y'all were not having it.

[00:12:36] Y'all were upset that Neo was coming because a lot of people were like, Oh, like, why'd they get him? He's for old heads, blah, blah, blah. They got that for the alumni, whatever. I was like, y'all, we are the same age. We grew up in the same time. Okay. And I know y'all's parents put Neyo on. In the living room, early [00:13:00] Sunday morning when it was time to clean, right?

[00:13:02] Right. 

[00:13:02] Shana: Everybody knows Sexy Love, like, come on now. 

[00:13:05] Janae: Listening to Ne Yo when I was growing up, it was a time, and it was really nostalgic for me to see him in person. It was a great show. He can sing, he can dance, he had backup performers. For the hip hop concert, I was excited for it because I love 21. I listen to him a lot.

[00:13:24] Same. Yeah, and I was... Ooh, when I was in line waiting for that ticket at Morehouse's bookstore, I was listening to his music as I was waiting for the line. I was hype. I was ready to go. And I went with my friends. It was great. Having Drake there was just the icing on the cake because the surprise artists that they brought out were already lit.

[00:13:45] Like Lil Yachty, I was really excited to see him. It was just a great time. And my, by far, as far as performances, and lineups. That was my though I've only been to[00:14:00] 

[00:14:00] Shana: I feel like had Drake not come out last year, we would have said that was a terrible homecoming concert. I agree. And let me tell y'all, let me tell y'all why. They couldn't even get 21 mic to work. He didn't come on to two hours after he was supposed to. The opening acts was cool, but they gave one song max, you know.

[00:14:19] It wasn't looking like it was going to be a great performance. And then they brought Drake out. And Drake is really the artist of our, of our lifetime right now. Like he, I feel like he's the Beyonce for our generation. Interesting. Very interesting. Just in terms of like, how many hits he's making, the longevity of his music, his identity pours into the community, like, who started doing heart shaped things in their haircuts at, like, they started doing that after Drake.

[00:14:47] Like, you know what I'm saying? he influences the masses. Now, I'm not saying it's a good thing, I'm not saying, I'm just saying that that's, I just feel like based on the facts, that's what's going on. He's like leading. Our generation and music 

[00:14:57] Jasmine: look, we not shaming you, but anybody listening [00:15:00] right now, we are not canceling Shana today.

[00:15:03] No, no, no, we're not canceling Shana because she has a right to her opinion and let's be for real. You know, Drake does his thing. Like everybody loves Drake. Who doesn't love Drake? Y'all will listen to interviews. Don't that's what I'm saying. Exactly. 

[00:15:16] Shana: Even if you, even if you never picked up a Drake album, you know, a Drake song.

[00:15:22] Jasmine: Right. How did y'all feel seeing the alumni outside? 

[00:15:26] Janae: They were outside. seeing them at tailgate was a whole other perspective for me. Because, I think it's really funny because seeing them at tailgate versus seeing them at convocation. Totally different vibe. So it was nice to see them, you know, let loose and have fun.

[00:15:46] And give, advice to some of the students that are currently attending, whether they were sound of mind or not. It was, it was a good time. It was nice to see them, have fun. 

[00:15:58] Jasmine: So we can definitely [00:16:00] say that homecoming wouldn't be homecoming without the alumna, right? Yeah, for sure. 

[00:16:05] Shana: Definitely wouldn't be homecoming without the alumna.

[00:16:06] For sure. I also think it's like, as a senior, I'm like constantly thinking about what am I gonna do, or like what's gonna be my path, my connection to Spelman, my, my future, like not being a Spelman student. And so I'm like, looking at alumna, and Seeing myself in them is like, Oh, yeah, I'm gonna be back my, the year after I graduate to turn up during homecoming.

[00:16:26] I definitely am. I'm also going to be back 20 years after I graduate to turn up during homecoming. Yes, I will be. With my family, maybe. I don't know. Who knows? but I also think like, seeing alumna come back and let loose and like, I think what was most powerful for me, like not even seeing them like, be a little, you know, loose.

[00:16:45] It wasn't really the looseness that was fun. It was seeing them. I remember specifically at Market Friday, I saw this woman, and she was, you know, doing her thing, just walking around, and then she seen a homie that I guess she hadn't seen in since she Been [00:17:00] back at Spelman for homecoming or been or went there as a student and she was like, what?

[00:17:04] Oh my gosh So and so and then she said another one and she like hugged and she embraced these guys Who went to Morehouse who she knew when she was a student not just like that is what I'm looking forward to as an alum Coming back and like seeing people who I don't necessarily keep in touch with but who I made great memories with in college and get to like reminisce on those That's what I'm looking forward to.

[00:17:24] I think the alumna really just put in perspective that like, it's about to be my time. 

[00:17:30] Jasmine: Are there any specific homecoming alumna traditions you hope to participate in in the future? 

[00:17:35] Janae: Yes, I have one. Easy. I am going to go into every building that I lived in and slip that little 20 envelope under their door.

[00:17:45] I gotta do it, especially since I never got an envelope. Right? Trifling. Where's my money at? Right. 

[00:17:52] I'm gonna do it. I'm even gonna do it to some rooms that I haven't lived in, but like my friends did. I'm really, really excited. I'm a little [00:18:00] scared to, I don't know how you're doing it, you're graduating, so I'm a little scared to graduate, but I'm excited to come home.

[00:18:06] Shana: They talk about senior exit plan, I'm like, what do you mean? I just got here. They're like, get out of here. They literally, they're like, pack up your stuff. I

[00:18:14] Jasmine: would say for me, just like going off of what Janae was saying, I really do want to be the alumna that Students will look up to when they need encouragement, when they need direction, because, that's what Spelman is about to me and homecoming, really embracing the legacy of Spelhouse.

[00:18:33] I was talking to an alumna today. Oh, not an alumna, an alum of Morehouse and he was explaining to me like, you know, there's a reason why you're here. Your community needs you here They need your voice and you know, that's not something that you hear on a daily basis And you know, we go through so much as students.

[00:18:51] We have a personal life our school life our work life career life There's a lot weighing on us as students So just to [00:19:00] hear that I'm definitely going to embody that as an alumna myself. 

[00:19:04] Shana: I love that. That is so nice 

[00:19:07] Jasmine: But we don't we don't care for the alumna that we wanted to crazy to you. We love y'all 

[00:19:14] Janae: We do but you know, there's about time 

[00:19:17] Shana: I'm a woman's studies major, but I'm a like a transfer woman's studies major like I Was a chemistry major for the longest time and now I'm like settling into what I really want to do in career And so I'm taking intro.

[00:19:30] I'm in my senior year and I'm taking intro with Beverly Guy-Sheftall. Shout out to her She is one of I think of her as a pillar of Spelman. She was a Spelmanite herself and she speaks a lot about in her class the creation of Spelman traditions because she was like, they weren't here when I was here. The white dress wasn't.

[00:19:54] Here, when Spelman was created, that tradition of white, of dressing in white dresses, that was something that was curated [00:20:00] for a purpose. And, what I find when alumna come back and they, and I, my friends and I have had experiences where they like, look at you crazy when you got a bonnet on running to the mail center.

[00:20:12] Or, they say things like, Spelman women don't do that. Or, you know, they just, they perpetuate these respectability politics that we should be letting go of. In this generation. and so it's like, there's two sides of the coin of alumni coming back, it's powerful to see that there's legacy, it's powerful to see that there are people who did it before you, that there's, there's somewhere for you to go.

[00:20:35] But it's also like, how do we break away from really these white supremacist, idealized views of black women? And be free as black women. Like, when did we get to just be black women? And not be expected to act a certain way to be the ideal black woman. So, I do love my alum. Shout out to y'all. Y'all hold it down.

[00:20:58] I got money [00:21:00] for Spelman because of alum. Because of the Alumni Association in my area. But at the same time, we want y'all to see that we do it differently. Just because we do it differently doesn't mean we're doing it wrong. 

[00:21:13] Jasmine: That is really good. I know we made another comment before, when we were preparing for the episode that homecoming wouldn't be homecoming without self expression.

[00:21:23] It gives us a platform to be our organic selves. and we do that through our decor, our fashion, the tailgate, the concerts. You see everybody look good out in these streets. But. What is self expression without change? Because we're all, we're always changing. Every generation has their own identity.

[00:21:48] And one big part of this generation is that we are creating new identities that best represent who we are. And some of the older generations don't get it, but there's a reason, there's a [00:22:00] promise in it. And I think that speaks to the spirit of homecoming. 

[00:22:04] Janae: Heavy on the change, because I feel like Spelman is built on the concept of change.

[00:22:10] I remember my freshman year for convocation, I had wore white, of course. It was a three piece suit, though. And it was a blazer, it was a vest, it was some pants. I looked good. I loved that outfit. Thank you. I love that outfit. But during convocations sometimes some alumna come back and they sit or they do whatever, you know.

[00:22:34] And I had someone come up to me, an alumna, and they were like, That's not something a Spelman woman, a woman would wear. I was like, gag. First of all, it gagged me. And second of all, who are you to tell me what to wear? we're changing with the times, dear. this is, this is who we are. This is how some of us dress.

[00:22:57] And I love this outfit. And I'm [00:23:00] going to keep wearing it because this is who I'm going to present myself as a Spelman woman for the next four years and for the rest of my life, honestly. 

[00:23:10] Shana: Yeah, I think this idea that I don't even say all alum hold because I feel like, I know that's not true. There have always been revolutionary Spelmanites.

[00:23:20] There's always been radical black feminist Spelmanites from its creation. But this idea that you have to fit into the mold of a Spelman woman instead of making. The Spelman woman fit into you. And I think that's what our generation and what radical Spelmanites are trying to do is have people understand that there is no one way to be a Spelmanite and that we are creating.

[00:23:45] Our definition of Spelmanites as we matriculate through Spelman. 

[00:23:49] Jasmine: And I want to bring up a quote that was provided by Spelman Blueprint. Are y'all familiar? 

[00:23:55] Shana: Yes. Shout out to them, they just got a second [00:24:00] volume of the semester and it's in print. Like actual physical print, which is really cool. 

[00:24:05] Janae: So happy for them.

[00:24:06] You can find their newspapers in the first level of Cosby. 

[00:24:09] They have a whole stand. 

[00:24:11] Jasmine: So now y'all know. So go ahead and get y'all. lil...go and get it.. Okay. So it was October 2013 issue. and they stated the countless homecomings that have paved the path for this year's homecoming are worthy of our acknowledgement and appreciation through a bunch of spirit of homecoming is an ingrained entity. of the Spelman experience that will remain present long after we have parted ways with Spelman Lane. How do y'all feel about that, as we talk about self expression, alumna, just enjoying homecoming overall? 

[00:24:42] Janae: As we graduate, there's a certain urge to come back, whether, despite like whatever your experience was. At homecoming, at Spelman College, sorry. And I think that everyone should come back because it's a way to reminisce about, you know, your youth [00:25:00] and your education and whatever career that you're in. Part of it is owed to your education that you gained at Spelman College. So I do think it's ingrained in us.

[00:25:11] Shana: I think people forget in the, in the, maybe they don't forget. Maybe I didn't realize too recently, the idea of homecoming is the idea of coming home. Like, this is our home. there's no other space where we can really be our unapologetic, or at least try to be our most unapologetic black selves and be surrounded by other unapologetic black people.

[00:25:31] This homecoming because I'm a senior and this quote just reminds me that like coming home is for me to Be able to see those black people again and be in that space where we got to Discover ourselves and learn new things about ourselves. Yeah, I'm a little sad to graduate. 

[00:25:49] Jasmine: Don't be sad. You're gonna become a promising exuberant shining alumna Representing Spelman in the best of the best that it can be [00:26:00] represented.

[00:26:00] So, but I, I definitely understand what y'all are saying and being at Spelman and being at home coming as a student is definitely different from being an alum. I hear alum coming back and they're like, Oh my gosh, this building is different. This room used to be that and the cap did not look like this.

[00:26:20] And. It's a sense of excitement, but also it kind of, like we're talking about is coming back home and seeing how your home is, ever changing and, and you feel a sense of identity, but you also know that it's changing for the better. and I think that alumna Gravitate towards Spelman because they want to see how Spelman is improving and how students are making their mark on this campus just as they did when they were students themselves.

[00:26:49] Shana: I'm trying to do everything this year because I don't want to graduate with regrets, you know what I mean? I tried to go to every event. I didn't end up making it to every event, but I made it to enough to [00:27:00] where I could say I had a good homecoming. I think the best part of homecoming this year was just being around my friends and like taking pictures.

[00:27:07] That's also something I've been trying to do this year is take a lot of pictures. I got this Hi8 old camcorder from my grandmother and I've been recording everything. And just been trying to get as much footage, analog footage as possible about my years at Spelman.

[00:27:28] We know they're like. Homecoming wouldn't be homecoming without self expression. But, That don't mean we gotta spend a band. 

[00:27:37] Jasmine: No, the mailroom lines are long. How much did y'all spend? 

[00:27:41] Shana: I still haven't gotten stuff out the mailroom. I got good, double good popcorn waiting on me in here. Ooh, that's so good. That is good.

[00:27:47] I do eat lunch, yeah. I think there's this idea, that you gotta have new fits every homecoming, and it gotta be completely, it can't be nothing that you wore before, and it can't be nothing that you posted [00:28:00] before. God forbid that you posted it and have the same shoes on in the next picture that you just posted in

[00:28:06] I feel like we gotta allow ourselves to just be creative with what we have. it doesn't mean that we gotta break the bank, cause we already paying for 50 million events. 

[00:28:16] Janae: Right, and you know what? There is a Goodwill right up the street that I go to a lot and they have a lot of good pieces in there And that is how I don't break the bank It barely touches my pockets and I don't have to wait in that long mail room 

[00:28:32] Shana: and they just had a new like redesign I don't know if you have been to the Goodwill recently, but they have, they just remodeled the entire store.

[00:28:40] Like, I'm not gonna say remodel, it looked the same, but they like changed up. They have a new counter. They have jewelry now they didn't have before. They got like essentials, like sponges and things like that. So if you just need to get something like on the quick, that's also just a great place to go support local businesses as well.

[00:28:57] Jasmine: Yes. I love that. Good one. And another [00:29:00] thing that, Just like another homecoming wouldn't be homecoming would be sharing clothes. Oh my god. Yeah. I'm like, everybody is sharing like hats, jewelries, earrings and tops. And I love it. I have a little sister and we always, we're not sharing clothes, we're stealing clothes.

[00:29:21] That's besides, that's besides the question. So I, I just love feeling that spirit. I do think that is a part of our sisterhood here. Only if you promise to give back the items that you, you borrow. 

[00:29:34] Janae: Heavy on giving it back. 

[00:29:35] Shana: And don't try to wear it again. Like I gave you one event, no? 

[00:29:41] Jasmine: Right. And sharing hair products and you know, makeup stuff and shoes, what not. I just love it. Me too. It's the girlhood. It's it's everything to me. 

[00:29:53] Shana: I think beyond homecoming though, I, because I live on campus, my friends who live off campus are always like, Shauna, do you have a blazer? Or [00:30:00] do you have some shoes? And I'm always willing to give. To borrow, let them borrow, to share.

[00:30:06] just because that is I think what siblinghood can be. 

[00:30:10] Janae: So it has become a blue record homecoming tradition to answer the question Homecoming wouldn't be homecoming without blank 

[00:30:19] Shana: I just want to pull up a quote from a past Blue Record episode. Big tailgate rule. Do not pay for anything. Do not pay your way.

[00:30:29] You got a friend whose cousin's uncle got a tent. Go there and get you some food. Do not pay for anything. And that is the realest thing I've ever heard. Right. Cause this homecoming, did I pay for anything? No. Period. No. Not a thing. 

[00:30:43] Janae: You know what? It's sad to say. That I did break this rule, because I did pay for a plate.

[00:30:50] I didn't know anyone, unfortunately. I probably did know someone who knew someone who knew someone, but I was starving, so I had to eat and I was willing to pay whatever money I had to [00:31:00] spend. And I spent, I spent a bag to get that plate, I'm not even gonna lie to you. But, everything else I didn't pay for. I have the bottles of water I did not pay for because somebody told me, you know, I know what it's like to be a broke college student, so here's five bottles, here's five bottles of water.

[00:31:17] I'm like, thank you so much. Yeah. and I, I had a good time either way, as I keep saying, cause I really did. I really did. 

[00:31:23] Shana: And they want you to eat. Right, you gotta eat. At the day. It's a long day. Somebody will forgive you. 

[00:31:27] Jasmine: Yeah, long day. So, now we know, Proverb, taking it's account, put it in the deepest of the deepest trenches of your heart.

[00:31:36] Don't pay for nothing. 

[00:31:38] Janae: Don't be like me. Right. Don't. Learn from my mistakes, because I'm still suffering from that purchase today. Dang. 

[00:31:46] Shana: Yeah. It also is it don't hurt to ask. Just walk up to an alum, and just be like, You want to buy me a turkey leg? I'll probably buy you a turkey leg. Okay. 

[00:31:56] Jasmine: Did you do that?

[00:31:57] Shana: I did. Oh my gosh. I did get my turkey leg for [00:32:00] free. 

[00:32:00] Janae: Wow. I'm hanging with you.

[00:32:11] Jasmine: very essential, essential topic. our last homecoming wouldn't be homecoming is safety. Without safety, we don't have a homecoming. Right. A real homecoming. Title IX is a, a great office to go to if you have any questions about, being safe during homecoming, sexual assault awareness, domestic violence awareness.

[00:32:34] they help out with, Umbrella of different things that you need to equip yourself for homecoming. 

[00:32:40] Janae: Regardless if it's homecoming or not, it's important to remember to take care of yourself, be aware of your surroundings, travel with people that you know have best interests out for you and you have the best interests out for them, travel in groups, just remember to be aware, be safe, [00:33:00] have a good time, of course.

[00:33:02] And don't be afraid to visit the Title 9 office and ask questions. They have a lot of resources, a lot of information. It's all for you and your safety. 

[00:33:13] Jasmine: And I just want to point out really quick, just as you go somewhere with your Spelman sisters, you leave with all of your Spelman sisters. Absolutely. Nobody should be coming back on campus in a group and y'all hyped up and somebody's coming back alone.

[00:33:27] That's a definite. No No. 

[00:33:29] Shana: I think it's also important to know that like as much as we have security around us And they are promised to take care of us like no one's going to take care of you more than yourself And so it's understanding your limit knowing when it's time for you to call it a night Or to hold your friend accountable 

[00:33:47] Jasmine: and be respectful. Yeah, safe, responsible, respectful. I think that homecoming has is, is jumping with energy that entire week. [00:34:00] People are excited. You know, there's different feelings. A lot of stuff happens during homecoming. That's why that period is called the red zone because a lot of stuff is happening. And sometimes.

[00:34:11] Certain things should not be happening and, it poses a threat to students specifically. So, it's important that we take into account that everybody has a responsibility to what they do and what their actions are. just as Shana said, we must take accountability for our actions and change the culture.

[00:34:32] Janae: Absolutely. Wow. Wow. 

[00:34:36] Thank you. We ate that up. 

[00:34:40] Jasmine: We applaud you for listening to this episode. Yes, that was for y'all. If y'all have any questions, please be sure to visit our, Instagram page. It's full of explosive, exciting information and updates about the Blue Record podcast. Please be sure to listen to any more episodes.

[00:34:58] And we look forward to talking to you [00:35:00] again. Thank you. Thank you for listening. Thank you for listening. Thank you.