Homecoming events to start off loud Sunday night
Most events in the Student Union Building’s Ballroom discourage shouting matches, but students are encouraged to yell as loud as they can Sunday at the annual Homecoming Kickoff.
The University of Idaho’s 125th homecoming will begin with an hour-long photo scavenger hunt throughout campus and the “Yell like Hell” competition, which is essentially a shouting match among excited students. The event begins at 6 p.m. Sunday, in the SUB Ballroom.
Sarah Jacobsen, the Homecoming Committee member in charge of Kickoff planning, said the “Yell like Hell” competition is judged by whoever has the highest decibel reading for a chant about UI. She said Kickoff has always been her favorite Homecoming event.
“I am a little biased because it is my event, but I have to say it is one of the best events of Homecoming,” she said. “It’s so much fun getting everyone excited and amped up for the beginning of Homecoming, and it really sets the tone for the entire week.”
Jacobsen said this year’s Homecoming is monumental because it’s UI’s 125th anniversary.
“I think (the 125th anniversary) plays into (Homecoming) in almost every way,” she said. “There’s so much history within 125 years. That’s 125 Homecomings that came before this one, and I think it plays into not only our theme, but also every little aspect of the Homecoming process. All of these traditions began during the past 125 years and led us to this point.”
Tim Helmke, an advisor of the Homecoming Committee, said the “Once upon a Homecoming” theme will be incorporated into Homecoming events throughout the week.
“Each of the living groups and students organizations that are participating in different events randomly drew fairy tales and movies and children’s books that have a story theme to them,” he said. “So that we’re not seeing Frozen 26 times during jingles or in the parade, we’ve limited how many times a story can be told.”
Helmke said the photo scavenger hunt will incorporate clues that are tied in some way to a fairy tale or children’s story. The scavenger hunt begins at 5 p.m. Sunday, in front of the VandalStore.
Helmke said he thought the theme, which he said could help tell a story, was timely for the 125th Anniversary.
“We’ve been telling our story for 125 years, so throughout (Homecoming) we’ll be marking some significant milestones the university’s had, or milestones that we’ve reached through that,” he said.
Jacobsen said the committee estimates about 500 people will attend the initial Kickoff. She said there is a diverse range of groups who participate in Homecoming events overall.
“As a university, we have tons of participation in Homecoming, and that’s something we are so fortunate for,” Jacobsen said. “I encourage people to come out and join us, and have some fun with us and I hope to see them all there.”
Daphne Jackson can be reached at [email protected]