FRIDAY,OCTOBER11,2002
HOMECOMING
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3B
Hard work,hours of planning represented in parade floats
By Ashley Osbern
correspondence@kansan.com
Kansan correspondent
Working until the sun goes down, organizations have spent the past week and a half pumping, painting and constructing floats.
Since the middle of September members of greek organizations, scholarship halls, the Asian American Student Union and Hispanic American Leadership Organization have thought of ideas, worked on sketches and attended safety meetings in order to participate in the Homecoming parade.
on a float. Pi Kappa Phil fraternity and Kappa Alpha Theta sorority decided to be partners as early as last semester. Other houses serenaded the sorority of their choice or voted at chapter and asked.
The first step for most greek organizations was to find a fellow fraternity or sorority to work with
2002: A Hawk of a Good Time."
"We went through the formal process of serenading Gamma Phi Beta," said Marty McSorley, Phi Kappa Theta fraternity member and St. Louis junior. "About 20 to 30 guys went over there and sang 'Wonderful Tonight' by Eric Clapton along with a melody of 'What a Girl Wants' by Christina Aguilera, 'Girls' by Beastie Boys and 'Oops I Did it Again' by Britney Spears."
The next step was thinking of an idea and design to relate to the theme, "Traditions Anew for
Groups got their ideas in different ways. One person would come up with a bright idea or a few of the artistic minds would combine their sketches together. For Theta Chi fraternity and Pi Beta Phi sorority it was a joint effort of a Homecoming committee incorporating everyone's thoughts.
"We asked other members in both houses to get a variety of opinions and just kept in mind other's ideas when we finally decided," said Kristi Varnthouse, Pi Beta Phi sorority member and Leawood sophomore
John Nowak/Kansan
In order to get first prize,
groups spent $700 to $2,000.
Greek organizations obtained
their spending money from alumni, chapter dues and donations. The money goes mainly to pomps, which provide the color for the float along with a tent and trailer.
Seth Norton, Lenexa junior, molds chicken wire to form the figure of a Buffalo. Norton and fellow members of Sigma Chi fraternity have worked with Chi Omega sorority to build a float for Saturday's homecoming parade.
"That is usually half of our budget," said David Hievsch, Delta Upsilon member and Wichita senior.
The most time consuming part of the float is the actual building process. On average 30 to 100 hours is spent on this. Every night this week, groups have worked from 6 p.m. to midnight to make sure all aspects come together.
"We have worked on it a lot because we have traditions to uphold since we have gotten first for the past six or seven years,"
said Jon McGinnis, Triangle member and Collinsville, Ill. "I don't want to break that."
Members of the Asian American Student Union and Hispanic American Leadership Organization also worked together on a float. However, they spend fewer days and money working on the float.
"We are not worried about getting first, but just wanted to do different homecoming activities with other multicultural groups," John Tran, Overland Park junior.
The parade starts tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at the Kansas Union and finishes at the Chi Omega Fountain.
Lawrence rooms hard to find during homecoming
—Edited by Chris Wintering
By Marissa Stephenson correspondence@kansan.com Kansan correspondent
A note to this weekend's crowd of alumni and parents: Bring your KU spirit, but don't forget your tents. Those returning for the homecoming festivities will find that when it comes to securing a place to stay, there isn't little room in town.
Hotel managers across Lawrence said this weekend's annual gridiron fest, along with Parents Weekend and graduation, were the three biggest draws of the year.
Mark Travers, desk clerk at the Best Western Hotel, said the hotel had been booked for two months.
"I tell the people that call in
now to try Topeka or Ottawa, someplace close so they can commute," he said.
"When it comes to the 'Big Three,' we're always booked," said Ryan Kehr, assistant front office manager at the Eldridge Hotel. "Our rooms start to go months in advance."
For those who want to be assured a room, the Eldridge Hotel offers a little something extra — a year-in-advance waiting list.
"The Sunday following home-coming, we begin taking names for next year's weekend. As soon as we know the official dates we start to book the waiting list," Kehr said.
The price for Lawrence hotels ranges from $73 for a room at the Super 8 Motel to $199 at the
Eldridge. The answers were noticeably varied as to whether prices go up for big event weekends like homecoming.
"We do not raise our rates for big weekends," said Bruce Phan, front desk manager at the Holiday Inn. "What we do is stick to the highest published rate, no discounts."
Cale Coke, supervisor at the Ramada Inn, also emphasized that there was no increase in rates during busy weekends.
"Regardless of the demand, we won't raise our rates, whether the weekend is sold out or not. Actually, there are times where we will lower the rate of a room to sell it."
Jennifer Larson, general manager of the Super 8 Motel, disagreed. She said the hotel did
raise prices for homecoming weekend.
"We don't charge god-awful prices but the rate is above the normal charge," Larson said. "After all, it's weekends like this that help to get us through the slow weekends when nothing is going on in Lawrence."
Kehr also said that the rates for his hotel increased because of the busier weekend. "Yes, prices go up. It's just what happens when so many people want a room," he said.
Not everyone is booked for the upcoming weekend. Those still looking for a last minute reservation can find rooms at the Days Inn, Bismarck Inn, and Ramada Hotel.
With hotel rooms scarce, there
is always the possibility for parents and alumni to stay with a KU student.
"My aunt spent two years at KU and is coming up for homecoming to stay with me at Towers," said Stephanie Benedict, Lenexa junior. "She's also bringing up her daughter — we're going to show her around town and the campus."
Others said homecoming presented a great opportunity for alums to reminisce on past KU experiences while introducing a younger generation to the possibility of attending the university.
"My sister might come up for the game and stop by my place at McCollum," said Ashley Stubblefield, Liberty freshman. "My parents aren't coming though, there's
just not that much of a draw."
Matt Gabel. Leavenworth sophomore, isn't sure if he'll be present for homecoming weekend, much less his parents.
"My Mom's an alum and she cares about the game less than I do, so she won't be attending," Gabel said.
Casey Schuetz, Wichita junior, said her parents already came up recently for Parents Weekend, so they wouldn't be attending the homecoming game. When asked where her parents stayed for Parents Weekend, Schuetz laughed.
"They had to go to the Doubletree in Kansas City. Everything here had been booked since the summer," Schuetz said.
Edited by Matt Norton
This is a No-Brainer.
Everyday Student Specials starting at...
$699 Large
1-Topping Pizza*
$12.99 2Large 1-Topping Pizzas*
Late Night Delivery
Dine-In, Delivery, or Carryout
Fri-Sat until 12:00 am
Sun-Thurs until 11:00 pm
4651 W. 6th Street
Fri-Sat until 2:00 am
785-843-2211
Sun-Thurs until 12:00 am
600 W.23rd Street
934 Massachusetts Street 785-843-7044
785-843-3000
*Valid only on Hand Tossed, Thin N' Crispy and Pan Pizzas only. Valid Student I.D. Required.
One coupon per party per visit at participating units owned and operated by subsidiaries of Pizza Hut, Inc. Delivery changes may apply. Limited area.
Not valid with any other offer! 1/20 cent cash redemption value: 60201 Pizza Hut, Inc.