Singing, dancing, and chanting filled the International Ballroom for the annual Vandal Jingles event. As a part of homecoming week, participants created an ensemble along with the homecoming theme in a competition. The event was held to show pride for UI just before the big homecoming football game on Oct. 14th.
Homecoming finalists this year were UI men Bennett March, Micheal Youngwirth, Carson Shriver, Hunter Rouse, and Will Hanosky. Women finalists are Liz Anne Soeth, Karissa Avella, Madison Fitzgerald, Emilee Adams, Natalie Suaste, and Addison Thomson.
This year’s homecoming theme was “There’s no Place Like Moscow” an inspiration of the classic movie: “The Wizard of Oz.” Following the movie’s significant symbols and characters, every group that competed incorporated planned costumes, music, and choreography.
Each performance was interrupted by the hosts of the night Homecoming Finalist Carson Shriver and Director of Homecoming fundraising Lauren Young held questionnaires for prizes and told jokes bashing this weekend’s opponents, the Montana Grizzlies.
The main participants of the night were all Greek life. Two houses each, one sorority and one fraternity joined forces showing off their vandal pride.
“It was very chaotic,” said Rebecca Shumway from Delta Zeta, “We discussed with our partner frat house to talk about the ideas we wanted to do, and the next day we needed a video of the choreography which I had to finish in like 5 minutes.”
Overall, Rebecca’s group came second even with the brief time they had to make up their performance.
The best was saved for second-to-last as Tri Delta and Pi Kappa Phi won for their energetic and well-rehearsed performance.
Greek life was not the only students to show their support as Resident Hall students from Theophilus Tower came and performed a skit, saving the Tin Man’s heart by giving him some Vandal pride.
Marie Duncan
Carson Shriver was the emcee of the night as the Parade Chair. Homecoming is put on by a committee of students who worked year round on this week. There were also performances by the talented Multicultural Greek Sororities.