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MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2012
LAWRENCE
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Businesses support homecoming
JESSICA MITCHELL jmitchell@kansan.com
The University's 100th homecoming is hoping to produce a memorable week with many festivities. The homecoming committee has organized events that allow for town involvement and are partnered with various funded agencies.
Local businesses such as Paisano's, The Bird Dog Bar, 23rd Street Brewery, Bigg's BBQ and Dillons are all incorporated with the week's events.
The Food Fest will take place on Oct. 25 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Adams Alumni Center.
The assorted restaurants will be vending at the Homecoming Food Fest. They are all paid through KU Alumni Association and Coca-Cola funding, making the event free for students and other community members.
24rd st. brewery is one of many local businesses providing food for the Homecoming Food Fest. The Food Fest will be held on Thursday, Oct. 25 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.at the Adams Alumni Center.
Community involvement doesn't stop with local businesses, however. Various funded agencies partner with homecoming events to support a positive cause.
the partnership.
VICTORIA PITCHER/KANSAN
"The United Way of Douglas County is our main partnership," said Mathew Araiza, director of homecoming steering committee. "The Homecoming events where we raise money at, like, the Jayhawk Jog and Pregame Pancakes all go toward benefiting the United Way of Douglas County."
Colleen Gregoire, United Way vice president and campaign director, has made it her business to become familiar with the working committee in hopes of expanding
"I think it's beneficial for both sides," Greiore said. "I have an opportunity to share information with the committee members about all the different United Way agencies... I think it has opened the eyes of some of the committee members to even create additional fundraising events that will target one of our community goals."
Other events include Stuff the Bus and Lawrence for Literacy Book Drive. Stuff the Bus is a food drive that will benefit Just Food, a partner funded agency of the United Way.
"The partnership with both of these has been going on for several years," said Alexandra Null, a member of the homecoming community outreach committee. "But, with this being the 100th homecoming, our
goal is to make it an even bigger and better event."
Dillons will be hosting Stuff the Bus events as well as providing food barrels and cash boxes.
Tilyn Bell, a freshman from St. Francis, is looking forward to celebrating homecoming with her sorority, and she thinks town
involvement should be increased.
"KU is such a positive school, and we do so much," she said. "Lawrence should really support us and just be involved because there is a lot of awesome things that go on here."
Homecoming week depends on community involvement and cooperation with the University.
"I think that it has become a really great partnership of effort and awareness," Gregoire said.
For more information about the events of homecoming week, check out the schedule on the University's Alumni website, kualun.org.
Edited by Megan Hinman
CAMPUS
Steering committee encourages all KU students to participate in events
SAVANNAH NELSON-TYRRELL styrell@kansan.com
But there is still hope for nongreek students to participate.
Go greek or go home for homecoming? Not necessarily. There are many ways non-greek members can get involved in the week's events.
If you are involved in the greek system, you probably have no problem getting involved in homecoming week at the University. It is a long-lasting tradition that Greek students join together for a good cause, using homecoming week to show off their houses' philanthropies. It is easy, though, for student groups not associated with the greek system to get left behind, hidden in the shadows of intricate floats and in-your-face house competitions.
According to Zack McQuiston homecoming publicity co-chair, all students can find available activities in the homecoming informational packet on the University's website. Along with the contests, competitions and games, there are several opportunities for volunteering. In the packet, students can find everything about homecoming, from a schedule and description of events to a listing of available awards.
McQuiston also noted that there are two separate brackets for homecoming week competitions, a
"Although the perception is that greek organizations are the ones that participate in homecoming, and may be a little easier for them, all of the philanthropic activities are related to United Way of Douglas County, which is a great incentive in itself for any student to get involved," McQuiston said.
greek category and a student group category, so the stigma about competing against greek organizations is unnecessary.
Morgan Grahek is not getting involved in homecoming, but not because she doesn't want to.
“There is nothing that I know to get involved in. Most of the greek life does that,” Grahek said. “But I will be going to the game.”
Nicole Bunten, a freshman, is a non-greek student who will be participating. Bunten is a member of the KU Marching Jayhawks, and will play in the homecoming parade.
"We just march a parade on campus, and play fight songs for the parade-goers." Bunten said.
To learn more about homecoming week, check out the information packet at kualumni.org.
— Edited by Nikki Wentling