Activities for Saluki Luau, Homecoming 2002 to begin tonight

After a month and a half of adjusting to the rhythm of college life, SIUC students will have the opportunity to unwind to the rhythm of the band, among other music at festivities for Homecoming 2002.

While students have hopefully made themselves at home on campus by now, it will not truly feel like home until the events for Homecoming 2002’s “Saluki Luau” begin.

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“I’m going to a lot of parties and some of the events,” said Scharles Crosby, a junior in sports medicine from Chicago. “Homecoming is a nice time where students can get together in a positive atmosphere.”

For those wishing to partake in the formal Homecoming festivities, this year’s theme will occur when students assemble to show their school spirit during the pep rally.

The event will take place at 8:30 p.m. Friday in McAndrew Stadium, a change from the Thursday pep rallies students have been accustomed to over the years.

“This is the first time in, I don’t know how long, we’ve been able to have the pep rally on Friday,” said Valerie Climo, a senior in theatre from Nashville, Tenn., and the director of this year’s Homecoming festivities. “We were able to rework things so that the alumni activities end right before the pep rally. Plus, the new lights in the stadium should make things even better.”

Climo said that those who come out to hype up the Salukis will have the privilege of viewing the entertainment of such groups as the Black Fire Dancers, Saluki cheerleaders and Shakers.

After an evening of revving up the home team, the individuals who organized Saluki Luau 2002 hope students will wake up early the next day for the parade.

The parade, which will take place at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, will feature 20 bands and 50 floats. Seven of the floats fall under the classification of large, three more than last year.

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The parade starts on South University and Mill streets and proceeds around downtown Carbondale, before McAndrew Stadium.

Although the parade is early, Homecoming sponsors promise an entertaining event featuring small and large units designed by various campus members.

The pep rally and parade will, of course, lead up to the tailgating extravaganza that will take place outside of McAndrew Stadium from 10:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., followed by the main event, the game against Western Illinois University at 1:30 p.m.

Prior to what SIUC hopes will be a surprise victory against Western, pompoms, t-shirts and leis will be given out to go along with the Saluki Luau theme. During halftime, students will finally learn which two of the nine candidates will be crowned SIUC 2002 Homecoming King and Queen.

Climo said she was delighted with the amount of people who came out Tuesday to show their support for the candidates.

“We had over 200 voters this year, a lot more than last year,” said Climo. “I don’t know if we did a great job advertising or if the candidates did a good job campaigning. I like to think it was a little bit of both.”

As far as official Homecoming events, students will also have the opportunity to attend the Student Programming Council’s showing of “Minority Report” at 7 and 9:30 p.m. as well as the Miss Eboness Pageant 7 p.m. at Shyrock.

“I think the whole idea of Homecoming is a lot of hype,” said Jason Willis, a graduate student in sociology from New York. “But it’s good to see everyone in their finest attire and there is a whole lot to keep you busy.”

There are those such as Charmaine Hughes, a pre-med junior from Chicago, who said she simply plans to attend parties in the company of her best friend who is coming down.

But for those who are interested, there is plenty to get involved in. As there was with First Thursday’s “Maui Waui”, Climo points out that at the Homecoming game, during Saluki Luau, SIUC students will once again give students the opportunity to “get leid.”

Reporter Jessica Yorama can be reached at [email protected]