2B • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
HOMECOMING
FRIDAY,OCTOBER11,2002
Homecoming history continues to evolve this year
Tradition grown from longstanding KU-MU rivalry
By Nate Karlin
correspondence@kansan.com
Kansan correspondent
Homecoming evokes images of football games, pep rallies and school spirit, but few students and alumni are aware of the origin of the tradition or the reason for its predominant association with football.
The tradition of homecoming, according to Dale Wright, assistant director of Alumni Programs at the University of Missouri, began in 1911 at MU. In order to add some excitement to the annual football game against the University of Kansas, Chester L. Brewer, the Director of Athletics,
invited past graduates to "come home"to Columbia, Mo.
During that year, a spirit rally, parade and more than 9,000 fans packed into Rollins Field (now Stankowski Field) and gave birth to the tradition of homecoming. This day served as a model for the various homecoming celebrations that take place across the nation.
Each year, KU welcomes home its graduating class from 40 years previous to its homecoming celebration. This year, the class of 1962 will return to the festivities and traditions of KU homecoming.
According to Jim Deckert, president of the senior class of 1962, KU's homecoming traditions have "pretty much remained the same, though we had a better football team (back then)."
KU, however, has witnessed several milestone events throughout its homecoming history. Baby Jay hatched from a giant egg brought onto the 50-yard line during the 1971 homecoming game halftime show. KU stopped crowning a homecoming queen in 1970 and the tradition was later replaced by the Ex.C.E.L. program. The program has recognized one male and one female student for achievement since 1991.
Going along with this year's theme of "Traditions Anew in 2002," the KU Alumni Association and the 12-member studentled homecoming committee have visions of changing KU's homecoming by creating new traditions.
homecoming co-director and Wichita junior.
"We said dream as big as you can and we can make it happen," said Genevieve Gordon, KU
The primary new tradition, created by the Alumni Association, is that each Ex.C.E.L. winner will receive a class ring.
Other traditions anew range from the more grandiose traditions of a pep rally and a rescheduled parade to the more simple idea of a tradition of more student involvement and community services projects, and a completely student-run homecoming committee.
Within the past couple of years, the parade was held at 2:30 p.m. on a Friday on Jayhawk Boulevard.
Before that, the parade was held on Massachusetts Street. The spectator turnout was always small because classes were still in session and Lawrence residents were still at work. This year will
be the first time the parade will be held on a Saturday morning. "We're going to slowly make our way to get back on Mass, Street," Gordon said.
Gordon said the general organization of this year's homecoming is more varied. More organizations, in addition to the traditional Greek participants, are getting involved and displaying banners, including scholarship and residence halls and various on-campus political groups such as the KU Greens and the Young Democrats.
("More involvement) lets more people know that it's homecoming week," Emile Boesen, Des Moines, Iowa, senior said. "Before the past two years, you didn't even know it was Homecoming week."
More students this year are also participating in the faj Hawk
Spirit Sing, a competition started last year to get participating organizations to rally the "Late Night With Roy Williams" crowd with a song. Eighteen organizations signed up this year.
This year's homecoming is also taking on new aspects of community service including a canned food drive and the Jog for Jubilee, a 5K run that supported the Jubilee Café.
"I think that is one thing homecoming has missed out on—not having community service, volunteerism," Gordon said.
The homecoming committee hopes that this year will set a precedent for future homecomings at KU.
"I think homecoming is back on a rise on this campus," Gordon said.
All organizations welcome to take part in homecoming
— Edited by Amanda Sears
By Hannah Franko
correspondence@kansan.com
Kansan correspondent
Apart from an island nation tasty food and weddings, the term 'greek' has been used to identify particular student organizations among college campuses.
Unofficially, the term has also been used in describing homecoming week at the University of Kansas.
Matt French. Leawood junior and event co-director said the myth that fraternities and sororites run homecoming is untrue.
"It's predominately greeks that participate in homecoming, but there are other organizations that participate as well," she
There are many groups other than fraternity and sorority houses involved in homecoming, said Barbara Berry, vicepresident for public relations for the Panhellenic Association.
said. "Homecoming is not just a greek thing."
Non-greek groups participating in homecoming include KU Young Democrats, KU Greens, Alternative Breaks, SUA, KU Recreation services, Womyn's Empowerment Action Coalition, Delta Force, Black Student Union, Asian American Student Union, Hashinger Hall, Lewis Hall, HALO and the All-scholarship Hall Council.
However, fraternities and sororites do play a part in Homecoming Week.
"It's always been known as a big greek event," said Jake Albers, Lawrence senior and Pi Kappa Phi president.
Albers said some students believed it was because of the fraternities and sororities' presence that homecoming has gotten bad press.
"Most people have a predetermined image of fraternity/sorority life, and that reflects how they
perceive homecoming," he said.
Keena Tarrant, Topeka sophomore and organizer for the Lewis Hall homecoming activities, said the presence of fraternities and sororites in homecoming didn't affect her decision to participate.
"The residents wanted to do fun stuff, a lot of people wanted to get involved," she said.
Will Nether, Topeka sophomore and organizer for the Stephenson Scholarship Hall float, said he thought homecoming was designed for the fraternities and sororites, but that his hall was still building a float.
Bob McKenney, program assistant for fraternity and sorority life, said the entire campus community was participating in homecoming festivities.
"From the can construction to the pep rally, there are activities for everyone," he said.
Edited by Melissa Shuman
Coupons, coupons, coupons
Elizabeth Ault, Topeka freshman and member of the homecoming committee, tries the Coca-Cola coupon machine. Each contestant spent 5 to 10 seconds inside attempting to catch flying coupons from Coca-Cola or gift certificates to Yello Sub.
Lindsey Gold/Kansan
Theta Chi and Alpha Chi Omega's float travels down Jayhawk boulevard during last year's parade. The parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at the Kansas Union and progress to the Chi Omega fountain.
Kansan File Photo
Parade marches out tomorrow
Bv Lindsey Rains
By Lindsay Hams
correspondence@kansan.com
Kansan correspondent
"We laid out a vision for the kind of parade we wanted." Hudson said. "We brainstormed a huge, beautiful, ticker tape parade and figured we needed to change the day."
The parade will begin tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. at the Kansas Union and progress to the Chi Omega fountain.
This year, the annual homecoming parade will not take place on the traditional Friday afternoon, but instead will be tomorrow morning. The theme, "Traditions Anew in 2002: A Hawk of a Good Time" will be incorporated into the parade.
Students expecting to skip class today for the homecoming parade will have to come up with a better excuse.
Parade co-chairs Elissa Hudson, Pittsburg junior, and Tyler Waldorf, Leawood sophomore, decided in February to change the parade date with the hopes that it would be bigger than years past.
"I missed a class last year to go to the parade," Jessica Schickler, Des Moines, Iowa, junior said. "I think the change is great because there will be more student support on Saturday."
Changing the day of the parade was not easy for the co-chairs. John Mullins, assistant director of public safety, had to approve the usage of Jayhawk Boulevard, which is open to the public on the weekends.
"A lot of work went in with the parade," Waldorf said. "It was more of a hurdle for Elissa and I because no one had seen a Satur-
Waldorf said the change was made with alumni, faculty, students and Lawrence residents in mind.
The planners hope to have more residents and alumni attend the parade.
"Our goal is that hopefully one day the parade will be so big that it will be on Mass. street," Waldorf said. "Other schools have huge homecomings, and we want KU to have a homecoming that big."
Former KU football coach Don Fambrough, who coached from 1971 to 1974 and 1979 to 1982, will be honored as the grand marshal of the homecoming parade.
Edited by Sarah Hill
So yeah, it's homecoming weekend. The parental units are in town. Good times... Riiiiiiight. You'd better milk this for all it's worth. Take them to University Bookshop to stock up on KU goods!
Hudson and Waldorf would like for people to start at the parade, move to tailgating and then to the game.
$5 off of any KU
T-Shirt or Sweatshirt!
"A lot of work went in with the parade."
The goal of the homecoming committee was to make homecoming a day-long event.
day parade, so a lot of adjustments were made."
Tyler Waldorf
Leawood sophomore
1 coupon per customer.
Sale merchandise not included.
Exp. 10/31/02
1116 W.23rd Street
Across from Dillon's
749-5206
www.kubooks.com
University Book Shop
7
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