Pitt has only a few traditions.

The golden lights of victory illuminate the Cathedral of… Pitt has only a few traditions.

The golden lights of victory illuminate the Cathedral of Learning after every football team win, first-year men and women are welcomed to the University community at Night of the Panther and Lantern Night each year, and the students elect a king and queen for the school’s Homecoming celebrations.

But ever since the University tore down Pitt Stadium and eliminated references to Penn State from the fight song, tradition has been in somewhat short supply. Now, with Homecoming quickly approaching, Pitt’s short list of traditions may be getting even shorter.

Colleen Lamb, president of Omicron Delta Kappa, the honors society that typically sponsors Pitt’s Homecoming king and queen elections, said yesterday that it might not serve that function this year.

According to Lamb, the group is concerned about the way in which the elections function as a popularity contest. Lamb said that no final decisions had been made, but that she is considering ending the sponsorship.

Whether you’re a die-hard Homecoming supporter and frequent king or queen candidate, or someone who considers the institution a shallow popularity contest, having a Homecoming king and queen is still a tradition. And for that tradition to abruptly end – rather than stay the same or change to adapt to the times – would be an unfortunate loss.

It’s commendable for ODK to consider the legitimacy of such elections, but the group’s timing is off. With about five weeks left before the Homecoming game, now is not the time to begin questioning the moral value of this year’s contest.

Rather than surprising students with the quietly decided absence of an election, ODK should continue its sponsorship through this year. With more advanced notice that the elections won’t be held next year, students would have the opportunity to seek out another sponsor.

It’s time for ODK to take charge where it’s failed to do so thus far. The group needs to make definite decisions about whether the elections will happen this year under ODK leadership. If the group chooses to do so, it could focus more emphasis on leadership and service in the elections, rather than jumping ship and canceling them altogether.

If the group is certain it cannot sponsor the elections this year, ODK must hand over the reins and solicit the assistance of other student organizations in continuing this Pitt tradition. Certainly members of numerous powerful student organizations would like to see the Homecoming elections continue.

Though these organizations would need to act quickly, with the amount of talent and dedication that Pitt’s student groups collectively possess, the show can undoubtedly go on. The tradition can continue for another year.

And besides, if there’s no race for Homecoming king and queen, the students will be severely shortchanged in the lollipop department, and freshmen won’t know the excitement of an all-out postering campaign on Towers patio. And what fun would that be?