The good old dayz: Why are we still going to Skool Dayz?

What is it that draws students to Skool Dayz? Is it the nostalgia? The music? The school uniform?

A significant attraction of Skool Dayz, in my opinion, is the nostalgia. The memories of dressing up in uniform influence many students to attend the event, which asks its attendees to wear a uniform, unlike POP!, where students can wear anything they’d like. So, why do students continue to attend Skool Dayz?

The Warwick Student Union website describes Skool Dayz as follows: “Twice a term, we ask everyone to do the unthinkable and cram themselves back into that old school uniform for a night of naughty nostalgia. If you still pine for the good old days when Girl Power ruled the roost and Pokémon encouraged you to ‘catch ‘em all,’ Skool Dayz needs YOU to help us relive the best (and worst) tunes from music’s finest era: the ’90s and the early noughties”.

Part of the nostalgic atmosphere the SU are trying to achieve for Skool Dayz includes older music in comparison to POP!

Skool Dayz, taking place twice a term rather than every week (like POP!), makes the event feel more exclusive. Since it happens less often, it may appeal to students more as they don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to dress up as their younger self.

Is there a sense of forbidden fun promoted by the SU? Part of the attraction of Skool Dayz could be dressing up as your younger, less disciplined and irresponsible self. The phrase “naughty nostalgia” suggests that this night out allows you to do things you might now hesitate to do.

The SU’s description focuses on reliving “the good old days” and talks about music from the 2000s and late ’90s. Part of the nostalgic atmosphere the SU are trying to achieve for Skool Dayz includes older music in comparison to POP!, which features a mixture of modern tracks. An article on the popularity of ’90s music states that “nostalgia for the last optimistic decade is currently so strong it’s threatening to swallow our present moment entirely and transport us back to a time of Blair, bangs and Britpop.” The music played is part of the appeal of Skool Dayz because it adds to the nostalgic atmosphere.

Since Covid, there appears to have been a shift in social priorities

Warwick SU rewording their description of Skool Dayz raises the question: will the event itself change? It used to stress the nostalgia. The school uniform theme and the description of “Act your shoe size, not your age!” now has less emphasis on the nostalgia of the night and its links to school, instead of instructing students to “crowbar your way back into that old school uniform to relive the best (and worst!) tunes from your misspent youth.”

Does this change indicate any social changes? There has been a decrease in the number of students going clubbing, especially since the 2020 lockdown. There are many contributing factors to this decline. Some reasons include the cost-of-living crisis, changes in students’ habits, and fewer clubs being open. Since Covid, there appears to have been a shift in social priorities. According to an article about student clubbing habits, “Gen Z and younger millennials are more mindful with their time and money.” Many students are now juggling part-time jobs, online side hustles, mental health management, and academic pressure – all of which have contributed to a drop in the number of students going clubbing.

“Students haven’t stopped going out – they’re just doing it less, with more thought”

The student clubbing culture isn’t dead – it’s changing. “Students haven’t stopped going out – they’re just doing it less, with more thought.” These shifts in social attitudes may explain why an event like Skool Dayz, which is hosted twice a term, is more popular than other club nights that happen weekly.

So, Skool Dayz remains a popular event because it appeals to students’ desires for a fun night out, and requires a unique and nostalgic dress code. For students seeking a night of reminiscing and “naughty nostalgia”, they can find it at Skool Dayz.