Advertising senior Ashley Simco only knows about Homecoming week because she tailgates with the American Advertising Federation group on campus.
‘UH doesn’t market it well,’ Simco said. ‘Even when I lived on campus, I never knew anything about it.’
The lack of knowledge among students regarding Homecoming seems to be a growing trend.
Two out of six students interviewed knew that Homecoming week was coming up, and those two students only knew because of their membership in campus organizations.
‘We have been using Facebook to keep students informed, as well as sending out e-mails and taking out ads in the Daily Cougar,’ homecoming chair Jay Jacoby said. ‘During Homecoming week, we will have signs lining the walkways on campus. It is hard to reach all the students because of the commuter mentality.’
In the event that students are not members of a campus organization, there seem to be few opportunities to learn about Homecoming, unless students actively seek out the information.
This year’s homecoming theme is ‘Eyes on the Pride,’ and festivities begin Oct. 17 with a charity 5k run/walk on the UH campus to help support the UH Rock the Block Community Service Program.
Student organizations will show Cougar pride and help decorate the University Center for Homecoming by painting their themed creations on the windows Oct. 18.
The official kick-off for Homecoming week takes place Oct. 19 as student organizations decorate the UC Arbor with their banners; the 2009 Homecoming Court will also be announced.
Strut Your Stuff is a talent show performed for UH students by UH students Oct. 20. The event offers singing, dancing and comedy, all with a Homecoming twist. Strut Your Stuff will be held in the UC’s Houston Room.’
Go Coogs Day will take place Oct. 21. Students will be asked to wear red all day. Free food will be available in the Cullen Family Plaza (behind the E. Cullen Building). There will be spacewalk inflatables, games, music, snacks and the traditional rubbing of the cougar paw for good luck.
The 42nd annual Beauty Bowl takes place Oct. 22. A long-standing UH tradition reaching back to 1967, the Beauty Bowl turns the tables, as the girls play football while the boys cheer from the sidelines.’
The Beauty Bowl will be held at the Recreational and Wellness Center’s Sport Club Field. A Homecoming Block Party will be held in the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center from 7 to 10 p.m.
‘The block party is open to all students at the University of Houston,’ Tiffany Lester, a student leader for the Residence Hall Association, said.’
‘Anyone can watch the football game, but the actual players must be residents of the residence halls.’
‘ Homecoming weekend kicks off Oct. 23. with a production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, put together by the School of Theatre and Dance. The play will be presented at the Wortham Theatre.
‘ This is the first year the School of Theatre and Dance has offered a show as part of Homecoming weekend, and it is their first fully staged play in over a decade. ‘
‘If you’ve seen the film, expect something very different,’ director Paul Hope said. ‘There won’t be wall-to-wall mayhem in the audience, but fans will definitely be energized by what’s happening on stage.’
The Homecoming parade will happen Oct. 24 before the football game. Students will decorate golf carts and floats.
‘ The parade will start on Cullen Boulevard, continue through the tailgate area and end at Robertson Stadium.
‘ The parade will include the appearance of a live Cougar.
‘We are excited about bringing a live cougar back to the UH campus,’ Jacoby said. ‘We are currently trying to contact past members of the Cougar Guard to develop a picture archive and old Shasta artifacts.’
‘ A Cougar and Shasta history exhibition will be available to students, alumni and fans outside the north entrance of Robertson Stadium.
Throughout Homecoming Saturday, the Homecoming Tailgate Challenge will be taking place in the tailgate area of the Robertson Stadium parking lot.
‘ Open to all UH alumni groups, the Tailgate Challenge is a battle of food and Cougar pride.
The groups will compete in four categories: most spirited, best food, the scholarship fundraising award and the homecoming grand champion tailgate.’
All monetary awards are donated to the four winning groups’ scholarship funds.
‘We are very excited about this year’s Homecoming and have student organizations signing up in record numbers to participate,’ Jacoby said.’
‘If anyone has more questions about this year’s festivities, then please email us at [email protected].’
For a complete list of Homecoming week activities, visit www.uh.edu/news-events/calendars/special-events/homecoming/.
