Campus is buzzing, banners are painted, dances are rehearsed, and wings are eaten. It’s homecoming week 2013.
In addition to the `80s theme, Amanda Bigney, director of student activities, said that this year is unique in terms of campus and alumni involvement.
“We collaborated a little bit more with alumni this year on theme and in coordination with activities,” Bigney said. “[The] alumni are more aware of what the students are doing so that they can make sure to be supportive during the homecoming week.”
She also said that students are especially excited for this homecoming year, which boasts the highest campus participation of all time. Last year, only 11 teams participated. This year, that number is up to 15.
“I think this may be the most teams we’ve ever had participate in homecoming week, which is really great,” Bigney said.
Elizabeth Thistleton, captain of the Olds Residence team, is excited to show the competitive spirit of Olds and to rally the dorm around homecoming.
“People are practicing mock rock in the hallways and bathrooms, singing our spirit song all day, and campaigning for votes for our spirit photo,” she said. “I am fully committed to giving this thing 200 percent. Winning is everything.”
Ray Willis, head resident assistant and leader of the Galloway Residence team, shared his honest hopes that this year’s team will be stronger than in past years.
“Last year, we got booed off the stage for the spirit song competition. The goal this year is to not do that,” he said.
Willis further added that high dorm participation is a good sign.
“It’s good to see guys stepping up and taking charge for the reputation of the dorm,” he said.
Simone Lunt, leader of the new Benzing Residence team, said that she enjoys the fun-spirited and healthy rivalry between dorms. She said she is enthusiastic about the school and team spirit.
“I’m so excited to see so many teams competing this year and putting forth such incredible effort,” she said. “Benzing is super excited to be involved to show school spirit and dorm spirit, and to get our girls together and have fun.”
The week began with lighter competitions, such as the banner competition on Monday and tumbler cup sales on Tuesday. A wing-eating contest at AJ’s Cafe will be held on Thursday at 6:30 p.m.
The spirit song competition takes place Friday night at the bonfire at Hayden Park. On Saturday, Mock Rock, the highest scoring competition of the week, will be taking place in the big tent.
Bigney said that each event has a separate group of judges. The panel of student affairs judged the banner competition, while the spirit photo contest is decided through student vote.
Three Mock Rock judges are chosen from faculty and staff. This year, they are Victoria Bergen, administrative assistant to the president; Grover Campbell, shipping and campus delivery man; and Fred Yaniga, assistant professor of German.
For each event – excluding tumbler cup sales and Mock Rock – first, second, and third places are awarded 25, 20, and 17 points respectively. The top eight teams get points for each event. 15 points are given to each team that participates in an event. 50 points are awarded to the winner of Mock Rock.
First place wins $300 plus the homecoming cup, then second and third places win $200 and $100, respectively. Bigney said that the winner of homecoming is announced under the tent after Mock Rock. Typically, whoever wins Mock Rock wins homecoming. Last year was an exception, as Delta Tau Delta won the Mock Rock competition, but Simpson claimed the homecoming cup.
Bigney said that she is excited to get campus motivated during this unique and lively week, and to bring together past and present generations of the college.
“I’m really hoping that everything goes really smooth and that it’s a great turnout, and that we get a lot of alumni involved and also just get the campus rallied around homecoming,” Bigney said. “It’s kind of the one week where…our campus is buzzing with people that have been through here, graduated, and then brought back what they’ve been doing.”