Homecoming is finally here. The court has been announced, and the game and dance are occurring tomorrow night.
Maybe you missed the banners, pep rallies or chalk-drawn Viking symbols on the sidewalks around campus, so here is one last bit of information about the event.
The V-Team, a group of 10 sports-marketing interns in the athletics department, brought homecoming back to PSU last year after a 35-year absence. The dance ended up being a surprising success, with nearly 300 tickets sold. This year, the group has expanded on the event and hopes to exceed previous numbers.
The most notable change from last year’s homecoming is the return of a homecoming court. Students were nominated and then decided on by V-Team faculty advisers to form the court of five women and five men.
V-Team member Chase LoGreco stressed the importance of having faculty, and not students, pick the court.
“We didn’t want the court to be a popularity contest,” he said.
This past Monday was the coronation of Sarah Cody, Brea Evert, Christy Harper, Amara Marino, Alana Moore, Matt Elder, Bunkie Estey, Ryan Klute, Preston Parrish and Andrew Tyner. Complete with tiaras, the group was presented to students during the noontime pep rally.
Klute was excited about his newfound prince status and stated, “I think I’ll do a damn fine job.”
On a more serious note, Klute said, “I think it’s cool being gay and being part of the court. I consider myself a non-traditional court pick, and I’m glad that our court reflects our non-traditional school.”
Erin Ingram-Ford, another V-Team member, was also pleased with PSU’s first court in 36 years.
“I thought it was good that we ended up with such a diverse group of people,” she said. Ingram-Ford also pointed out how involved each member of the court is in the PSU community.
The court includes members of fraternities and sororities, athletes, student senators and even the ASPSU student body president.
Students can vote for the king and queen at the homecoming game, where information about each court member will be given.
To find out who is voted king and queen, you’ll have to attend the dance in Shattuck Hall following the game. Tickets for the dance are $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Only 500 hundred tickets for the dance will be sold to students, guests and alumni. There will be a beer garden for those over 21 and free food and music for all.
The entire homecoming event has received support from the community, including Nike handing out free wristbands at the game and Z100 DJ Chet Buchanan MCing the dance. The last homecoming queen, from 1967, Mary Lou Webb, has also pitched in by agreeing to crown the next king and queen.
Student groups like ASPSU, the Popular Music Board and the Greek Council have also helped by hosting the noontime pep rallies that went on all week.
While it’s still unclear as to whether or not traditional homecoming events can find their niche on the PSU campus, those interested can find out more on the V-Team Web site, www.vteam.pdx.edu.