Homecoming Week a time for traditions
Homecoming Week began with sloppy joes and Lays potato chips.
And it will end with a dance, parade, football game and after party.
Hosted by the Associated Students of Utah State University Organizations and Traditions committee, the annual week-long event has brought free food, free activities and an opportunity for students to be involved with Aggie tradition.
“Homecoming is important because it gives us a time to remember our traditions, as well as show our Aggie spirit and pride in many different events,” said Nic Gordon, ASUSU Organizations and Traditions vice president.
Gordon, along with a committee of about 20 members or so has been organizing the Homecoming events for the past few weeks.
“It’s a time to get together with your friends and have a good time – mostly for free,” he said.
Gordon said he is optimistic for the football game where USU will play against North Texas Saturday.
“We are looking forward to winning our homecoming football game. There’s a positive attitude around here,” he said.
The week so far
The events began on Monday with free sloppy joes in front of the Taggart Student Center and the evening commenced with the annual street painting at 10:30 p.m.
Kemper Stuart, the Homecoming chair over street painting, said more than 80 different organizations, clubs, fraternities and sororities participated.
The groups painted pictures representing their clubs.
Kemper said the winners for the competition are:
*Native American Student Council: $100 prize
*Sigma Phi Epsilon: $75 prize
*Interior Design: $50 prize
“It was fabulous,” Kemper said about the event.
Homecoming week continued Tuesday with the Mr. USU pageant as Kevin Gunnell took the title with a Lord of the Dance routine.
The TSC was surrounded Wednesday as students either checked out the pep rally, or bought burgers and rode the mechanical bull for the annual Alpha Chi Omega Dollar Days.
Dollar Days, a scholarship fundraiser for the USU Women’s Center, has been running during Homecoming Week for the past five years.
Sally Russell, who is on the Women’s Center advisory board, said last year’s Dollar Days, which earned $4,600, went to more than 50 scholarships for women – many who have been victims of physical or domestic abuse.
Burgers, drinks and rides on the mechanical bull were sold for a dollar each.
Russell said she really enjoys the fundraiser, because members of the Women’s Center and Alpha Chi Omega work side by side.
“It’s awesome,” she said. “We get to know each other better.”
Brittany Duke, philanthropy chair for Chi Omega, said they’ve done quite well for Dollar Days
“We don’t keep anything – totally charity,” Duke said. The full amount for this year isn’t known yet, because, Duke said they are still receiving donations throughout the week.
Homecoming activities continued Thursday with the Hello Walk and Aggie Ice Cream Forum, where ASUSU served ice cream and allowed students to voice their concerns about whatever they wanted.
What is to come
Homecoming Week still has a weekend left full of activities including a golf tournament, dance and True Aggie night Friday and a 5K run, parade, football game and after party Saturday.
Laurel Evans, Homecoming chair, said the dance Friday night will be catered to everyone.
“Because homecoming is for alumni as well as current students. We’ve tried to make it more to fit all different genres and age groups,” she said.
There will be four dance rooms including a live big band playing swing, a D.J., piano lounge and a live cover band playing ’80s and ’90s music.
“Our dance should be wonderful,” Gordon said.
But what many of the Homecoming organizers are looking forward to is the After Game Party where Homecoming Week truly comes to a close.
“I’m really exited. We’re bringing in a really cool band and we’re having blow up toys,” Evans said. ” I think it’s going to be really cool.”
After the football game ends from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. the TSC will be full of free activities for students.
The event includes a “paint your date” dance where neon paint will be provided and a dance in the Walnut Room in the TSC with a D.J. and black lights.
There will be a X-Box “Halo” tournament sponsored by Graywhale, who donated a collectors edition of “Halo 2” for the winner.
The tournament is limited to the first 16 people who sign up, but after the competition, Nate Putman, Homecoming sub-chair, said it will be a free-for-all. Students can sign up Friday in room 340 in TSC or at the party.
“The whole TSC is going to have stuff in every stinking room,” Putman said. “It’s going to be a party.”
-joelfeathers@cc.usu.edu
Big Blue rides on the mechanical bull outside the TSC Tuesday during dollar days. (Photo by Becky Blankenship)