With all the major events that took place in the 60s in the United States, at least one SIUC student is excited about this year’s Homecoming theme A Saluki Salute to the Sixties.

I think the theme was a good idea, Colleen Kelly, a member of the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, said. It gives people who are competing in the float competition something to be creative with. There’s a lot that went on in the 60s.

Tina Kofink, director of tradition for the Student Programming Council, said a lot of thought went into choosing this year’s theme.

We chose that (A Saluki Salute to the Sixties’) because it’s also Saluki Family Weekend, and a lot of people’s parents were in school during that time, she said. So we thought it would be a fun theme for everybody.

Kofink added that the theme is a way of linking all of the Homecoming events.

It’s to set a theme for all of the weekend’s events, she said. And people can do whatever they want in relation to the 60s.

While the theme is important for many Homecoming participants, for others it is not.

Nadine Lucas, administrative aide at the SIUC Alumni Association, said Homecoming is an event alumni look forward to regardless of the theme.

I think it’s probably the biggest weekend of the year for alumni coming back, she said. It means about everything to the graduates of older years. They come back and renew acquaintances and show loyalty. It’s about people who had a great time at SIUC and are coming back.

Lucas said her association will be available Saturday before the Homecoming football game to greet returning alumni.

We will have the big Alumni tent near the stadium where we give free lunch to alumni, she said. There will be a representative from most of the colleges on hand.

While alumni events began Thursday, Kofink said student-oriented festivities will begin tonight.

We are doing a fireworks bonfire pep rally for Friday at 8 p.m. in the Abe Martin Field, she said. We’re going to have the bonfire, the Saluki Shakers, the Saluki Cheerleaders, and the football coach (Jan Quarless) is going to introduce the team and give a little speech.

This year will mark a change in the way the crowning of the court is done.

We’re going to crown the Homecoming queen and king at the rally, Kofink said. Usually we crown them during halftime of the football game, but we think the students will enjoy it more if we do it at the bonfire. This is the first year it has been done here (at SIUC) like this.

Kofink said this change is being enacted to make the event more community-oriented. Also, because this weekend is also family weekend, the Family of the Day winner will be announced during halftime, so there would not be enough time to do both events.

Most components of Homecoming will not change this year, and the competitive nature of the parade is one of those things.

Kelly said the Tri Sigmas have teamed up with the Sigma Pi fraternity. The parade will wind through town at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

I think our theme revolves around when the U.S. first landed on the moon, she said. I think we’re also going to have a collage of people skating around the float in 60s diner outfits, and we’re also going to tie in SIUC by putting Pulliam clock tower on the float.

Kelly said her organization’s float has a good shot at winning, because the Sigma Pi fraternity has been the champions the past four years.

We’re going to try real hard to help them make it five in a row, she said.

At least one opposing group hopes Sigma Pi doesn’t extend its winning streak.

Tony Blood, president of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, said his fraternity had a lot of trouble with conceptually tying in SIUC with the 60s, but he thinks they have a shot at winning the float competition anyway.

We were frustrated because we weren’t sure what they wanted, he said. There’s so much more we’re familiar with to work with on a national scale than on a Southern Illinois scale.

Blood said his fraternity’s theme will focus on the well-known events of the 60s.

Our float is going to be divided into four sections, a Vietnam reenactment, the JFK assassination, The Beatles and another section that is yet to be decided on, he said.

While the fraternity’s float does not have a planned SIUC connection, Blood said he thinks it will appeal to people from all over who come to the parade.

It’ll work unless the crowd are all SIUC grads from the 60s, he said.

Homecoming will provide a good time for many SIUC affiliates, and Kofink said that is what the weekend is all about.

It’s a time for the students, the alumni and the community to get together and enjoy school spirit, she said.

For more information about Homecoming events contact SPC at 453-2721. Or for information on the many Alumni Association events, call 453-2408.

8 p.m. Friday- Saluki Bonfire & Pep Rally, Abe Martin Field

9 a.m. Saturday- Saluki Invitational Cross-Country Meet

9:30 a.m. Saturday- Homecoming Parade, downtown Carbondale

10:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Saturday- SIU Alumni Reunion Activities, east side of McAndrew Stadium. Register at the tent to enjoy prizes, beverages and a complimentary lunch provided by the SIU Alumni Association and Colleges

1:30 p.m. Saturday- Homecoming Football Game – SIUC v. Southwest Missouri State

8 p.m. Saturday- Comedian Cary Long, Student Center Ballrooms, admission $3

7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday- My Best Friend’s Wedding, Student Center Auditorium, admission $1

8 p.m. Friday and Saturday- The Department of Theater presents Tom Stoppard’s play Arcadia, McLeod Theater. Tickets can be purchased at the box office or by calling 453-3001