Woofest — From a Women’s Perspective

Lights, music, dancing, and roses, what’s not to love about Woofest? Every year Vanguard University’s Huntington Hall hosts a fun-loving event dedicated to literally “wooing” the female student body. It’s exciting, it’s exhilarating, it’s comical, and I assure you it’s an event you wouldn’t want to forget in your calendar.

Freshman and sophomore boys usually take a couple of weeks to practice their performances for this night of wooing. Girls are invited to adore, enjoy, and laugh at these light hearted productions intended to show appreciation. A vast majority of Vanguard girls love these performances for their intended purpose, while a select few have different opinions.

A couple of interviews with freshman and sophomore girls on campus allowed me to gain some insight towards both sides of this spectrum.

Hannah Frelund. Lively freshman. Religion major. Incredibly curious about all that Woofest entails. I asked about her thoughts regarding Woofest, and what she thinks of the whole idea. I wanted to know her expectations. Hannah responded with curiosity, elaborating on how the entire concept seemed a bit foreign. “So… they’re dancing? Wooing us? How much do we dress up?” In addition to her inquisitiveness, her excitement was prevalent. She continued to share her enthusiasm, bringing me back to the days when my stomach swarmed with butterflies thinking of the right dress and the right shoes. Eyes gleaming and imagination running wild, Hannah conveyed her anticipation through seemingly endless questions surrounding everything Woofest could add up to be. Towards the end of my time with her, she left me with a simple question. “Do the girls ever do stuff like this for the guys? Like, do we get to ‘woo’ them also?”

My time with sophomore and Psychology major Kelly Greene took a slightly different spin. Once the topic of Woofest was brought up, Kelly immediately began taking me on a journey with her words of her experience last year. We discussed everything “Woofest” from the red carpet to the fancy dresses, making for a carefree night filled with endless laughter. Shortly after reminiscing in a sense, Kelly began telling me how she isn’t exactly thrilled for this year’s event. It was nothing personal by any means. It’s just that after experiencing it once, she feels as if it’s a bit worn out. She knows what to expect. She stated, “We dress up. We go. We get wooed. We leave.” With this in mind, I asked Kelly what the idea behind Woofest really meant to her. We explored the actual motive together and came to one conclusion. Woofest is meant to showcase appreciation and respect towards the females in our school, through fun dancing and aesthetic themes. “I, along with probably a lot of other girls at Vanguard, appreciate the guy’s efforts. Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited for Woofest this year, but I can’t help but wonder if the idea behind it will ever go beyond choreographed dances and rehearsed lines,” states Kelly Greene, while attempting to explain to me her current emotions regarding the event.

Thanks again, Kelly and Hannah, for lending me your time and your personal thoughts.

I think it’s safe to say that every girl just wants to feel loved, appreciated, and wanted. But also, equal, admired, adored. And not for only physical characteristics. Woofest seeks to play its part in accomplishing this, and I have no doubt that it will.

Ladies of Vanguard, put on your best dress and prepare for a night you deserve. Don’t ever forget, we’re all beautiful.

Men of Vanguard, we give you endless thanks for all that you do, but don’t forget—the hype centered around Woofest should be something we strive towards on a regular basis.

P.S. We appreciate you.