The field of candidates running for the honor and privilege of becoming the Cerritos College homecoming queen has finally been narrowed from 15 hopeful women to seven determined and committed princesses.

Great, so what’s next?

All this week, these seven women will be campaigning hard, passing out flyers and candy, meeting students and talking to classes in pursuit of the much-vaunted crown.

So, what’s next?

The election is this Wednesday and Thursday, with the queen to be announced this Saturday during half time of the big football game against #2 ranked El Camino College.

And then what?

That’s it. All done. Finite’. Once she is elected, the Homecoming queen is given a bunch of roses and a crown to stick on her trophy rack, but that’s about it.

Not that she is never seen again, mind you. The Queen is often invited to participate in campus events. Occasionally, she might even show up at an awards ceremony or banquet.

However, the Queen does not have any official duties or responsibilities. Other than having her name in print on occasion, most people never hear from the queen again.

The newly elected Queen does not represent Cerritos College during local parades or community events. She is not required to show at building dedications, art show openings or exhibition presentations. She does not espouse a favorite charity or promote a particular cause.

The Homecoming Queen represents Cerritos College in name only. Why is this?

When asked, many women (and some men) will say that homecoming should not be a popularity contest. It should not be about youth, beauty or body type but it unfortunately often ends up being exactly that.

Many former Queens would argue that personality and spirit carry the day, especially Dottie Thompson. The day she was crowned Queen, Thompson was 67 years young and the Grandmother of 11 children.

That said, how could this fundamental and long-running stereotype be updated to reflect the modern image of a contemporary woman?

Next to the Associated Student Body President, the Homecoming Queen is quite possibly the most visible person on campus. As such, she should be instrumental in promoting Cerritos College and its technological advancements, multicultural diversity and broad range of student-run programs.

As a stout promoter of women’s values and ideals, the ASCC President Nassrin Bonyadloo needs to help expand the role of the Homecoming Queen. She and the rest of the student government must better define the duties and obligations of the Homecoming Queen to better reflect the changing roles of women in modern society.

In order to break the stereotype of what a Queen is, Bonyadloo and the ASCC must actively promote the next Homecoming Queen as more than just a pretty face and a set of nice curves.

The Queen should be a visible symbol of what is best and brightest about Cerritos College.