An inflatable obstacle course, lots of Vandal swag and a photo booth full of accessories, drew students, staff and community members to the plaza outside the Idaho Commons Tuesday to participate in the Homecoming Promotional Event.
Last year”s event featured a mechanical bull, but this year, Homecoming Committee Chair Emily Rasch said they decided a photo booth and obstacle course could get more students involved. She said their goal this year was to encourage students to be engaged, take pride in the university and get in the homecoming spirit.
Students ran through the obstacle course, put on entertaining accessories and posed for the photo booth. Sometimes it was groups of friends, but sometimes it was strangers who joined together in the homecoming spirit.
Yishan Chen | Argonaut
The University of Idaho Homecoming Committee put on a promotional event outside the Idaho Commons Tuesday.
“I like that it”s very welcoming to everyone,” said Lupita Perez, who is majoring in Spanish and Latin American Studies.
The involvement of students is what really makes homecoming special, Perez said. She said Serpentine is her favorite homecoming event.
“It”s involved with the first-year students who sometimes get put out a little bit,” Perez said. “It involves them and makes everyone come together.”
Josh Marquez, a Moscow resident, attended the promotional event after he saw the window paintings done by UI students on the windows of local businesses in downtown Moscow.
“It means a lot to see the school involved in the community,” Marquez said.
Marquez got to challenge a UI student on the obstacle course and said meeting students and seeing the opportunities at UI make him want to attend school here.
The students running the event passed out Vandal swag, including buttons and can koozies, and encouraged people passing to participate in either the obstacle course or photo booth.
Wil Everly, a Homecoming Committee member, was especially enthusiastic about getting students involved. Everly said while Homecoming Kickoff is fun, he thinks events like this are what really bring the homecoming spirit.
He said being part of the planning process around these events has been a great experience as well.
“It”s a great opportunity to get involved with campus,” Everly said. “I think the best way to understand how the university works is to be part of actually planning some of the big things that go on with it.”
Involvement is key for these events and encourages a sense of community, he said.
“It brings alumni and the student body together to celebrate the same thing together,” Everly said. “It”s a good time to be had by all.”
Marisa Casella can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @marisacasella1