Change is fine — sometimes. But change simply to change is rarely a good idea. We hope that isn’t the case with the recent decision to eliminate next year’s Homecoming king and queen. The Homecoming powers that be say it isn’t.

And they probably are well intended in their goals “to embody diversity” and give Homecoming’s “alumni involvement” a shot in the arm. Those are good goals, certainly worthy of attention. Problem is, we’re not at all sure how dropping something students apparently enjoy furthers those goals.

What’s more, we kind of like the Homecoming royalty. The competition is good for the atmosphere and it gives students an opportunity for involvement. In the rush to be politically correct, eliminating a contest traditionally won by members of the greek system probably looks good on the surface, but there really doesn’t appear to be a good reason for axing the king and queen.

About eight years ago, Homecoming types say, the same thing was tried. The result? They again ushered in a king and queen the very next year. Precedent should speak for something.

In place of ISU’s royalty, next year’s Homecoming officials are considering rigging up an “Outstanding Alumni Award.” That sounds like a cool idea, but how is there a connection between an alumni award and the Homecoming royalty? Homecoming kings and queens are students; alumni awards go to alumni — at least that’s what we’re figuring.

It would seem, then, that it’s entirely possible to give an Outstanding Alumni Award and maintain the Homecoming king and queen tradition. Both have merit. Both look doable.

And if we had to guess, we’d bet that our coveted alumni wouldn’t be largely in favor of dumping the Homecoming king and queen. It’s a tradition in which they participated, one they probably liked, too.

So for what it’s worth, we’ll still bow to the crown.