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 Members of Phi Delta Theta fraternity decorate their lawn on Thursday with cutouts that represent members off all the different Greek houses on Campus, as well as one of Joe Vandal stomping on a cutout representing Texas A&M Aggies. Jake Barber/Argonaut
While school spirit and Homecoming events have not been well represented or attended in the past few years, living groups from across campus are expecting a good turnout this time around.
This year’s theme, “Joe Vandal for President,” was devised by the Homecoming Committee and approved by the Alumni Advisory Board.
Linda Wells, a junior and member of Kappa Delta sorority, said this year she sees Homecoming as a time when all living groups on campus can come together.
“I think Homecoming is a lot about bonding,” Wells said. “People in different living groups are often separated and doing their own thing and Homecoming is a time when people can get together and be silly and do skits and things like that together.”
Wells said Homecoming is a time when the university comes together to support the football team too.
“The more living groups get together and bond, the more school spirit we have,” Wells said. “When the football team notices that we are all in this together, they realize that we have their backs as supporters. I have faith in them.”
Steve Hanna, Residence Hall Association events coordinator, had the same idea.
“We are really pushing for participation in a couple of Homecoming events,” Hanna said. “I know there will be at least a few residence halls performing skits and participating in the parade, and I’m excited about it.”
Hanna said since halls are becoming more involved in RHA and campus-wide events this year, the energy level has really gone up.
“This year is definitely an improvement over last year,” Hanna said. “I tell you what, this year GDI week was something else. We never had less than 150 people at any event during the week. That level of energy is what the residence halls are shooting for during Homecoming and this entire year.”
Kyra Mauney, senior and Homecoming chair of Kappa Delta, said all the living groups are looking forward to the serpentine and the fireworks display.
“We used to have a tradition of doing fireworks,” Mauney said. “Then it was banned, but it was brought back last year, and I think it’s a really cool tradition to have.”
 The Gamma Phi Beta sorority decorated their house with a "Mount Rushmore Grand Re-Opening," that put Joe Vandal's head on the monument in big company with past United States presidents for Homecoming house decorations. Nick Groff/Argonaut
The serpentine is an event in which the Idaho Vandal Marching Band parades around campus and picks up people on the way to its destination in the Kibbie Dome parking lot. When the procession gets to the parking lot, there will be a rally with Idaho coach Robb Akey and the Vandal football team, a bonfire, the “Most Vandalized Fan” competition and a fireworks display.
“I can guarantee that we will have massive involvement in the serpentine,” Hanna said. “The kind of energy we have got going into this thing is incredible.”
Matt Dyson, Homecoming Committee Chair said the serpentine and the fireworks are a good way to revamp UI’s school spirit.
“I think doing the bonfire and the fireworks really helps with school spirit,” Dyson said. “I noticed last year when we did the fireworks, we had a phenomenal turnout and that was really cool.”
This year, Dyson said the Homecoming Committee decided to bring back the living group poster contest as well. He said the winner or the contest will have their poster displayed with the Vandal football team at the start of the game.
Homecoming week is also a great way to unite with UI’s past, Dyson said.
“It is a really good way to connect with alumni too,” he said. “Homecoming is a lot about the alumni coming back to the University of Idaho.”
He said Vandalfest, a social evening held at the Best Western University Inn, is a good place for current students to get to know past Vandals. This year’s Vandalfest event will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. tonight.
For more information about Homecoming events, log on to www.uidaho.edu/homecoming.
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