The Online Reflector

By Nicki Crisci
Opinion Editor

New events offered during this year’s Homecoming drew more student participation.

According to Eric Raider, student activities coordinator, publicity for Homecoming all week made students eager to participate.

“I think the students were excited and pumped that Homecoming was here,” Raider said. “Seeing the students get excited helps everyone else get excited.”

This year’s Homecoming stood out partly because of the organization and the visual elements around campus, Raider said.

Planning began earlier to elicit more responses from the student organizations, he said.

Kicking off Homecoming week on Monday was a pep rally in the Schwitzer Student Center atrium, which has not happened before at UIndy, Raider said.

“We had our first-ever pep rally, where we had over 150 to 175 people, which was something that we were really excited about,” he said. “We had really good attendance.”

This years Homecoming events were sponsored by the Indianapolis Student Government, the Residence Hall Association and the Campus Program Board.

The campus organizations were involved in the decorating of 13 golf carts that paraded around Tailgate Town on Saturday afternoon. Tailgate Town is a new development as well, which consists of barbeque and entertainment before the football game.

The carts were judged for best school spirit. The golf cart parade winner was Central Hall, which recieved $500 in programming money.

Raider said ISG wanted to do something different this year and hopes the golf cart parade will become a tradition.

Another change this year was that students were able to see more events during the afternoon hours.

According to RHA President Mandi Cowgill, the afternoon events could not accomodate every student’s schedule.

“There were a lot more things to do this year, but the hardest part was the participation levels during the day,” Cowgill said.

School spirit was on display not only in the residence halls, but also in the offices around campus.

Departmental offices, as well as the office of the registrar, the financial aid office, Residence Life, the health center and the International Division showed their colors with lively streamers, balloons and “Go Hounds” signs.

The office of the Registrar won the “UIndy Spirit Award,” which is on display in the office.

Some events that have not occurred for a while were brought back for this year’s Homecoming, including a foam party at Smith Mall and the Powder Puff game.
These events saw greater participation, especially the Powder Puff game, Raider said.

“The Powder Puff game had seven teams and maybe 125 students came to watch,” Raider said.

Two comedians, J. Chris Newberg and Justin Schlegel, performed at Smith Mall under the tents on the lawn following the Homecoming game.There has not been an event after a Homecoming game before, so the comedians were something different that the organizations were testing.

Campus Program Board President Amanda Nichols said that the goal of Homecoming week is to get students involved.
“This year’s Homecoming events really helped students get involved more, that was the key component,” she said.

The Homecoming king and queen were crowned during halftime of the football game on Oct. 6.
Sophomore Graham Grider was named Homecoming King, and senior Mandi Cowgill was named Queen.