For the first time in recent history, homecoming week and the mock rock competition will feature a theme—the `80s.
Alumni Relations selected an `80s band for the homecoming festivities, inspiring the theme. Amanda Bigney, student activities director, and Joyce Curby, alumni relations coordinator, collaborated to extend the theme to the students.
Bigney released the `80s theme to resident assistants and sororities two weeks ago. She admitted that while the alumni department usually picks a theme in keeping with the band they invite, the Student Activities Board has never previously adopted the theme.
“We’re always trying to find ways to unify campus and get everyone in on the same page and working together,” Bigney said.
This year, judges will award bonus points to teams that adhere to the `80s theme in the banner competition, the spirit day photo, and mock rock costumes and music. As in previous years, the homecoming winner will be announced after mock rock at the homecoming tent party on Sept. 28.
Junior Andy Reuss, who is leading Simpson Residence’s mock rock with senior Garrett Holt for the second time, said that the selection of a theme for mock rock took them aback.
“I think it adds a lot of potential for fun as far as competing ideas, but for mock rock specifically, I think I would prefer it not to be themed simply because then everyone has a lot more latitude concerning songs and dances,” Reuss said.
Junior Emma Langston, head resident assistant for Niedfelt Residence, is choreographing Niedfelt’s mock rock with juniors Julianne Grignol and Katie Summa.
“I think it could be fun to see where people go with it, but at the same time I know it totally would have killed the theme that we came up with if we had followed it, which is sad,” Langston said.
“I really like the ’80s, so I appreciate the theme,” said sophomore Kayla Wright, McIntyre Residence RA. “We had already started selecting songs and started some choreography, but it wasn’t that challenging to incorporate some ’80s material into the dance for some extra points.”
The late release of the theme gave a disadvantage to sororities, which typically use the same dance for Mock Rock and for Sigma Chi’s earlier Derby Days competition.
“We actually began choreographing our dance this summer, which gave us a lot of rehearsal time, especially with the Sigma Chi’s we’ll be featuring,” said Gabby Mahan, choreographer for Chi Omega’s Derby Days and Mock Rock dance. “I didn’t actually know there was going to be a theme, but we have a great selection of music and a really fun cast, so hopefully that won’t matter.”
“I just heard about the theme, but I don’t foresee it being a huge problem,” said senior Angela Pearsall, a choreographer for Pi Beta Phi. “It takes 10 minutes to change a song or a hairstyle.”
Although opinions are divided over the `80s theme, many agree on Mock Rock’s unifying effect.
“As always, we try to pull from all different talents within the house,” Pearsall said. “There are some girls that have a lot of choreography experience. There are some girls that have just done a lot of dance. There are some girls that love performing or love doing stuff with the house. We love just having fun together, and dancing is a really good bonding experience.”
Langston agreed.
“Mock Rock has allowed us to get to know each other better,” Langston said. “It has brought the girls in the dorm together in a new way.”
