THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2009
HOMECOMING
3C
COMPETITIONS
Greeks participate in parade tradition
BY STEFANIE PENN
spenn@kansan.com
The University of Kansas' greek community is an integral part of its homecoming tradition.
This year, the homecoming parade will commence on Jayhawk Boulevard two hours before the football game kickoff on Saturday.
Each year, the University's chapters contribute to many events, with some of the 13 sororities and 22 fraternies engaging in this week's competitions.
"The parade is the most visible event as far as all KU publics go because students, alums and kids can all attend," Ashley Moser, Topeka senior and co-director of the 2009 Homecoming Steering Committee, said.
Each year, it is customary for fraternities to team with sororites and build floats seen in the parade.
Sign-ups for the parade were in the spring, and the chapters earn points for their floats and for engaging in other homecoming events.
This year, major points are also being awarded for participation in two featured events.
The canned food drive, Stuff the Bus, took place on Saturday, and the Jayhawk Jog 5K walk/run on Sunday.
Money raised from the events was given to benefit the United Way coalition.
"People who are competitive participate in all of them," Moser said.
The Homecoming Steering Committee created one new event this year, a YouTube video competition. The videos were to be centered around the theme "Peace. Love. Jayhawks."
Steven Elliott, Abilene senior and co-director of the committee, said the submitted videos will be displayed on the University's YouTube channel.
Elliott also said the videos will be shown in the Union Gallery at the Kansas Union, which is supported by Student Union Activities.
Voting will take place online at www.homecomingku.edu this
"This, like many of our other events, does give participating groups a chance to win points," Elliott said.
week.
To ensure that their own greek houses are participating, chapters are encouraged to elect homecoming chairperson positions.
"As a homecoming chair we make final decisions and plan the week out," Katherine Goron, Joliet, Ill., senior and homecoming chairwoman for Delta Delta Delta, said.
"For the events that need certain talents, like singing or drawing, we'll find people who are good at those things and have them play a big part in the event," Goron said. "We work with both chapters to make sure everyone has a great time."
The points that the chapters earn determine the winner and will be announced on Saturday.
Edited by Anna Kathagnarath
MEMBERS of the sorority Alpha Chi Omega and the fraternity Triangle work on their entry for last year's Chalk n' Rock competition on Wescoe Beach. Chalk n' Rock is one of many events in which the Greek community participates during Homework Week.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
EVENTS
Alumni Center sponsors Homecoming Cookout, comedian
Different groups will also perform songs as part of Jayhawk Jingles
BY RACHEL SCHWARTZ rschwartz@kansan.com
Homecoming Week 2009 at the University has officially started.
All students are welcome to participate in the festivities of the week for the next six days.
"Preparation for homecoming begins a year out," Stefani Gerson, homecoming adviser, said.
For the Homecoming Week Committee at the Alumni Center, planning for the week begins far in advance.
Gerson said preparation for homecoming 2010 will start at the end of this October.
Gerson said that shortly after each year's homecoming, the Athletics Department chooses the homecoming game for the next year.
Then the Homecoming Steering Committee is put together based on submitted applications and interviews overseen by the year's co-directors.
As this year's co-directors, Ashley Moser, Topeka senior, and Steven Elliott, Abilene senior, oversee the co-chairs responsible for putting together the events for homecoming.
The next 10-11 months leading up to homecoming is spent organizing the events of the week.
The 2008 Homecoming Steering Committee displays its parade banner after the 2008 parade. The association is responsible for putting on several events during Homecoming Week, including the Homecoming Cookout and comedian show. "We want people to know that the events we plan are for them," Ashley Moser, co-director of the 2009 Homecoming Steering Committee, said.
Moser helped with homecoming
last year as the special events cochairwoman. As co-director this year, she has new responsibilities.
"Last semester, we helped the co-chairs shape all of the different events and we also led the com-
three in deciding the theme for this year," Moser said.
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
Even into September, the committees were putting the final touches on the different events, which include everything from
"You do not have to be in a sorority or a fraternity to be involved."
STEFANI GERSON
Alumni Center
Homecoming adviser
a comedian show to booths with free food to sidewalks covered in chalk murals.
Gerson advised that everyone be aware of what is going on throughout the week so that they can participate in and see the different parts of Homecoming Week.
"You do not have to be in a sorority or a fraternity to be involved," Gerson said. "There are so many
"The first 100 or so people who arrive will be able to participate in free tie dying," Moser said. "There will also be booths set up by people
things that go on throughout the week, whether it be stopping at a table on Wescoe Beach or creating a float for the parade. Anyone and everyone can be involved."
Local restaurant Bigg's Barbecue will provide food at the cookout.
Moser said that the big Alumni Center
The Homecoming Cookout will be outside the Alumni Center, weather permitting.
events are on Thursday, including the Homecoming Cookout and Jayhawk Jingles at the Alumni Center.
from organizations such as SUA and the Alumni Center."
"Hopefully, people will have at least one good memory, if not more, of this year's Homecoming Week."
During the cookout, five different groups will each perform separate song and dance acts for Jayawk jingles.
Kyle Savage, Clive,
Iowa, junior and special events co-chairman, said five groups of seven to 20 people each will perform.
ASHLEY MOSER
Co-director
Steering Committee
The groups auditioned earlier in the week, and each group will perform two songs.
The first one is either the fight song or the alma mater, reworded a bit to match the "Peace. Love. Jayhawks." theme of this year's homecoming.
The second song is a song choice that pertains to the theme as well.
Savage said he is looking forward to the performances.
"I am excited to see all of the jingles," Savage said. "They were really good last year; I was in one and I saw them performed. too. You could tell everyone had put a lot of time and effort into them.
I'm excited to see everything: for people to be creative with both the fight song and their original song."
On Saturday before the big one of the things I paid attention homecoming game, there will be a to. I just like parades."
pancake breakfast on the lawn of Stauffer Flint Hall.
That morning there will also be the float parade, which Gerson said she is really looking forward to.
"I am most excited about the parade because I always like it." said Gerson, who
"I can't wait to look back on Saturday at the week and see how hard everyone has worked"
attended the University for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. "The parade was always
ASHLEY MOSEF
Co-director
Steering Committee
Homecoming events are meant to benefit all students and to promote school spirit, according to Moser.
"We want people to know that the events we plan are for them," Moser said.
Moser said she
was certain that, like in the past, this year's homecoming would be a success.
She said she was excited not only for Homecoming Week but also to be able to look back and be proud of all the committee accomplished.
"I can't wait to look back on Saturday at the week and see how hard everyone has worked and to see how people have improved their events from past years," Moser said.
Hopefully, people will have at least one good memory, if not more, of this year's Homecoming Week."
— Edited by Abbey Strusz