By Sarah Metcalf
Homecoming 2003, “Around the World and Coming Home,” is only two weeks away. Northeastern University will take on an international flair as students participate in a week-long affair that focuses on showing school spirit, taking pride in student organizations and supporting NU team sports.
It begins on Tuesday, Oct. 14, and runs until Saturday, Oct. 19. On Tuesday, the Curry Student Center will be decorated with banners that both correspond with the week-long theme and represent student groups including the class councils and Resident Student Association.
That night, “Pirates of the Caribbean” will be screened in the Stetson Quadrangle.
Also, the student body will be able to interact with the juniors and seniors running for the Homecoming Court in “Court TV,” taking place at afterHOURS from 8-9 p.m. The student body will be able to ask questions and socialize with the prospective court members. Royalty voting will begin immediately after “Court TV.”
Thursday, Oct. 16, is Red and Black Day. The more people in a certain student group that dress up in red and black, the more points the group gets towards the competition for winner of Homecoming.
Also, there will be a pep rally during activities period from 2:50 to 4:30 p.m. in Krentzman Quadrangle. There will either be a live band or a DJ, and royalty voting will continue.
On Thursday night, Marino Madness will take place in the Marino Center from 7-9 p.m. There will be an obstacle course in which all students running for the Homecoming Court must participate. Anyone else who wishes to try their luck in the obstacle course may sign up by Oct. 10 at the campus recreation booth in the Marino Center.
Friday, Oct. 19 kicks off Homecoming Weekend, begi-
nning with the Class Clash from 4-6 p.m. in Centennial Commons.
There will be a tug-of-war, a volleyball tournament and a possible scavenger hunt, the Council for University Programming President Tom Kneafsey said. Each class is encouraged to accumulate as many people as possible to compete against the other classes.
Friday night holds one of the more popular events, Midnight Madness in Cabot Gymnasium. Beginning at 10 p.m., this event signifies the start of the basketball season for NU. Immediately after Midnight Madness is finished, float construction for the parade on Saturday begins behind Snell Library.
Saturday will be the last day of Homecoming Week. A carnival with fried dough and face painting will be in Krentzman Quad from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
At 1 p.m., the Homecoming parade begins and will travel down Huntington Avenue and Hemenway Street. At 12:30 p.m., the football team will take on Maine.
There will be shuttles continuously busing back and forth from Forsyth Street to Parsons Field in Brookline. At half-time, the Home-
coming King and Queen will be crowned.
At 8 p.m., comedian Bill Maher from “Politically Incorrect” will be performing in Blackman Auditorium.
Despite all of these events, many people do not know what Homecoming consists of and when it is taking place.
“I’m in it for the game. I haven’t really heard about anything else, though,” said Craig Cini, a freshman history major.
Another freshman, Cesar DeJesus, almost mirrored the response of Cini.
“I wouldn’t go to any of the events,” he said, “because I haven’t heard about any of them.”
When asked if he was going to attend any of the Homecoming events, sophomore criminal justice major Scott Chandler said, “What’s Homecoming?”
The Homecoming Committee encourages students interested to use word of mouth to spread the information about the activities for the week of Oct. 14-18.
If students are interested in participating in any part of Homecoming, they can pick up a participation packet in the Curry Student Center. It lists the times, dates and places of each event and where they can sign up to take part. There are no requirements to get involved.
