Students react to USI crowning two men as 2023 Homecoming Majesties
Koby Lindner, senior mechanical engineering major, and Cooper Motz, senior business management major, hug after being crowned the 2023 Homecoming Majesties Feb. 4 in the Screaming Eagles Arena.
February 15, 2023
The university crowned two men as the 2023 Homecoming Majesties for the first time in its history.
The Homecoming Ceremony was held Feb. 4 in the Screaming Eagles Arena. Koby Lindner, senior mechanical engineering major, and Cooper Motz, senior business management major, were crowned as the 2023 Homecoming Majesties.
“Genuinely, I wasn’t sure who was going to be called,” Lindner said. “All these people are fantastic people. Literally, any one of them could have been named.”
“I was very surprised,” Motz said. “I knew it could be anyone, but I still think a lot of people in their heads think it’s still boy-girl because, in high school and most places, it’s usually how it is.”
Lindner said everyone on the Homecoming Court knew there was a possibility of two men or two women winning.
“I’ve been around campus since before 2020, which I think is when they changed it to change the title to homecoming majesties,” Lindner said. “So I’ve been accustomed, for the past three years, the possibility of it being male or female or someone else. So, going into Homecoming this year, I was fully aware that it could be two girls, two guys and one girl, one guy.”
Motz said he felt bad for winning over a female candidate.
“I just feel so bad because everyone knew from the start it was an equal competition,” Motz said. “Anyone could win. After Kobe won, I feel like all the girls were expecting one of them to win, obviously.”
Students on campus shared mixed opinions on the decision.
“So it’s a first, and firsts are unique, and they are meant to be celebrated,” said James Exkorn, junior history major. “When something happens within our society that breaks the mold, we must take note of the fact because it signifies a change within the zeitgeist of society.”
“I think that it’s okay,” said Michelle Arisa, freshman biochemistry major. “I guess it’s a good thing. I’m not against it.”
Mallory Burton, junior journalism major, said she thought it was unfair to the woman candidates.
“They got chose to be part of it too, and there usually is a king and a queen,” Burton said. “I think they should have it where the ballots go out for the girls, only vote for girls, and then guys can vote for guys.”
Linder said the voting process could be updated to encourage people to vote more than once.
“One thought that I have right off the bat is encouraging people to vote for two people or requiring two votes in the ballot,” Lindner said.
Motz and Lindner said they think men and women have an equal opportunity to become majesties.
“The requirements were 10% of it was just going to events, 40% was an interview, 50% was student body,” Motz said. “So I mean, comparative to the women, it was very equal across genders.”
The majesties for Homecoming 2021 were both women, while the majesties for Homecoming 2022 were one man and one woman.
“By historical precedents, it’s even-keeled,” Lindner said.
Lindner and Motz said they were honored and grateful to have won.
“I’m very honored to have been nominated and then selected and then voted to be USI’s homecoming majesty,” Lindner said. “I’m very grateful, and congratulations to all the other people who were on the court as well. They are awesome people.”
“I’m very grateful I won,” Motz said. “It’s obviously an awesome award, it’s very prestigious. Again, I feel like I don’t deserve it. But I mean, I bet anyone would say the same thing. But, it’s definitely an experience, and I’m very glad to be part of it.”
Read more about the 2021 USI Homecoming, which was the first to use Homecoming Majesties here.
“How people think, how people perceive the world is changing,” Exkorn said. “It’s up to the viewer whether or not that’s for the better or the worse. And luckily enough, we all have the freedom to decide.”
