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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 22, 2008
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2008
HOMECOMING SECTION 13C
affi c ath- h ips help s m oivr i m ovir d, d usivi n i a that are that irsity the rans have omy olace
COMMITTEE
Homecoming Steering Committee plans big
and other bile kites
In its sixth year, homecoming adds new events
BY AMBER JACKSON ajackson@kansan.com
There is one week out of the year when students, faculty and the community come together to celebrate the University, its traditions, and its athletics. What
spectators may not know is that there's a committee making the magic of homecoming come to life. The Homecoming Steering Committee in conjunction with the Alumni Association work to create the
to help organize the week and its events. The committee's first year was in 2002.
"We've been able to bounce ideas off of each other to put together the best possible combination of events."
"Since then, I think it has grown and definitely expanded." Alderdice said. "We still rely on all those groups to be a part of homecoming. It is easier because the people that
school spirit that Kansas is known for during homecoming week.
STEVEN ELLIOTT Special events co-chair
Before the Steering Committee was formed, homecoming was a mix of events put on by the school's student organizations.
"Different groups on campus had their hand in it," Jennifer Alderdice, the Steering Committee's advisor said. "Homecoming was really just the parade. It was on a Friday afternoon and then there was the ExCEL award. You just had to hope that someone would really step up and do something."
Richard Johnson, the dean of students in 2001, wanted to make KU homecoming a bigger and better event to compete with his previous school, The University of Missouri. With that idea in mind, Johnson created the Steering Committee
interview to be on a committee are definitely interested in being in charge of that event."
T he e Al u m n i Association beganhousing the Steering Committee in 2005.
Preparation for homecoming begins immediately after the previous homecoming ends. Applications are taken until November and interviews begin in December. There are six committees within the Steering Committee along with the positions of ExCEL and Jayhawk Jog chair, awards coordinator, treasurer, and co-director. After a committee of about 20 students is chosen, the preparations begin.
"This is my first year on the committee," Elizabeth Norblot, senior, said. "I am the co-parade chair and my duties are to put the parade together, make sure we have all the proper permits to have it on Jayhawk Boulevard, make sure to have a wide range of entries,
find a closing act for the parade, and making sure everything runs smoothly on the actual day of the parade."
The newly selected committee is taken on a retreat in January after returning from winter break and then continues to meet twice a month in the spring semester. The committee does not meet in the summer but instead has a summer retreat before school begins and when classes start, meetings are resumed every Sunday.
"We want to bring it back to the students. How can we maximize student happiness," David Wilcox,
"Surprisingly enough it takes a
Photo from homecomina.ku.edu
year to plan,
Aly Rodee,
Wichita senior,
and this year's
committee
co-director
said. "Spring
is kind of our
brainstorming
time. Once fall
comes around,
it's about getting
it done."
"I love Chalk n'Rock because it's fun to see what other organizations come up with, and to all be chalking together on Wescoe Beach"
MEGAN ATKINSON Publicity co-chair
"Through
Each year the Homecoming Steering Committee comes together to make homecoming week special for the year they are planning for.
our weekly meetings leading up to Homecoming Week, we've been able to bounce ideas off of each other to put together the best possible combination of events we could think of," said Steven Elliott, Wichita senior, and the committee's special events co-chair. "It's so much fun working with people who care as much about KU and its traditions as I do."
Manhattan junior and the committee's other co-director said. "They don't want to see the same homecoming back to back every year."
homecoming special for the year is by choosing a theme. This year's theme, Hail to the Hawk, was chosen to celebrate the accomplishments of last year's basketball and football teams.
"The deciding of the theme was really hard this year," Rodee said. "We wanted something that encompassed our great athletic year."
Many of the members of the committee have found the experience rewarding.
One way the committee m a k e s
"I think the friends you make
Exhausted by homecoming week, many of the members enjoy watching and participating in the events they planned for nearly a year.
along the way, both on the committee and in the other contacts you make during the process are key," junior Mary Duarte and the committee's ExCEL and Jayhawk jog chair said. "All year you work toward a goal in which the whole University will take part in and benefit from. It's a very rewarding organization to be involved with."
"I became involved because I like being a part of the process of planning major events here at KU. I thought this would be something different that would give me good experience and would be great to have on my resume," Nathan Mack, senior, and daily events co-chair said. "I also really love the University and thought that homecoming was a good way for me to encourage others to get involved and give back to the university."
"It's fun to see the other organizations' floats and creativity after the entire week and it's a great feeling of accomplishment
after a sleepless week filled with homecoming events," Kristen Watkins, senior, and publicity co-chair said.
"I love Chalk n' Rock because it's fun to see what other organizations come up with, and to all be chalking together on Wescoe Beach," Megan Atkinson, senior, and publicity co-chair said. "This year we have a lot of new events."
"My favorite event is the Jayhawk Jingle," Sylvia Davis, junior, and special events co-chair said. "Campus organizations do a 'school spirit' rendition of a popular song and also the KU fight song. It is hilarious, entertaining, and an opportunity for anyone to perform on a stage. I have participated for the past two years and this year I get to organize the event."
Homecoming has become the bigger and better event the previous dean of students Richard Johnson had hoped for. The magic they disperse on homecomingweekleaves students, faculty and the Lawrence community wanting more. With their commitment to homecoming and the university traditions are kept and spirit is amplified.
What do you think?
BY NORA SIMON
WHAT MAKES THE JAYHAWK A GREAT MASCOT?
AIDA ZYGAS
Chicago junior
"Cause it's made up; it's mythical.
And it wears shoes."
ALEX SURFACE
Kansas City, Mo. freshman "Because it's original, no one else has it and it has historical meaning, so it's something special to KU."
GRANT BUCKINGHAM Santa Monica, Cali., senior "He's a legend, and the crimson and blue bring out the boldness in his character"
JULIANNE COCKRELL Kennewick, Wash., senior "The Jayhawk is a perfect mascot because he's so cute."
A stroll down the boulevard
Allison Richardson/KANSAN
ALUM VOCAB
Alumnae: Female plural graduate
Alumnus: Singular former graduate
Alumni: Male or mixed group plural graduate
SOURCE: Merriam Webster Online Dictionary
Hallie Mann
Alma Mater: university someone has attended; school song/hymn
Alum shortened/abbreviated form of Alumnus