FE students get involved with Homecoming week

Homecoming, while a time of great pomp and pageantry throughout the campus, is seen to exude an aura of impenetrability and as an affair exclusive to Greek and other independent school organizations, according to some Peer Leaders (PL) in the employment of the Department of Housing.

A group of PLs has taken it upon themselves to relegate this impression to ancient history. They have embarked on a campaign of publicity to inform Freshman Experience (FE) residents of the various Homecoming activities and to foster an interest in participation in these activities.

"In other schools, Homecoming is a big deal on campus. [Most] people are involved...but at [Tech], that doesn't happen. What happens is that the people who are involved are mostly from the fraternities and sororities and other independent groups, but Housing is not involved," said Philip Estrada, a third-year Mechanical Engineering major and PL in Towers.

Estrada highlighted two key benefits of FE resident participation in Homecoming activities. "I feel that the non-Greek residents in Housing should have a chance to participate in the activities for two purposes: to build residence life pride, and also to build some sense of community."

Estrada began this journey by consulting his supervisor, Towers Residence Hall Director Shane Caldwell, for advice.

"[Towers] started talking about being involved in Homecoming during our student staff training last year. We signed up for a few events and had a lot of fun and wanted to become even more involved this year," Caldwell said.

Estrada said that he had also signed up Towers for the Display competition, Sir Buzz, Mini 500 and Tournament of Champions contests. Estrada cites the innovation and infancy of the initiative as its principal obstacle.

"We've never done this before. It takes a lot to get the ball rolling, to just get it started," Estrada said.

"[Another] one of the biggest challenges is that we don't have the funds or the planning committee to plan everything out. A Greek organization has a Homecoming chair and Homecoming committee with a certain part of its budget allocated to Homecoming. We have nothing like that," Estrada said.

Financial difficulties have been circumvented, for the most part, thanks to RHA and FE funds, according to Estrada. He also cites the deficiency in manpower as a significant barrier.

"[It's tough] to find people interested in working and helping to start something: raising money, getting support and talking to RHA who's helping us out with tools and supplies," Estrada said.

Estrada is, however, convinced of the program's popularity with freshmen. "I've found that [residents] will participate and enjoy the activities," Estrada said.

To this end, he is trying to get people excited about it and endeavoring to get the spark lit. Estrada is not alone in this initiative. His program has gained traction and is now supported by several other Peer Leaders in Towers and the other FE dorms Glenn, Cloudman and Harrison in the vicinity, collectively referred to as FE North.

"Being involved in Homecoming as a residence hall is not an easy [undertaking], considering that we are new on the scene," said Towers PL and third-year Aerospace Engineering major Gabriel Morocoima, who is heading Towers' participation in the Mini 500.

"The awesome part about it is that the residents are very excited and really want to get involved. This year we will be entering the Mini 500 race for our second consecutive year. We are seeking to defend our 1st place title in the independent division, and also pushing ourselves for more," Morocoima said.

PLs in other dorms have been similarly energized by this initiative. Their cognizance of the entrenched indifference of freshmen to Homecoming has not dampened their enthusiasm since they are hopeful of giving the future freshmen more opportunities to participate than they had when they were freshmen.

"Homecoming is a tradition on many college campuses, and it is a time-honored and deeply rooted part of Tech's campus culture," said Jason White, a third-year Biomedical Engineering major and Glenn PL.

"Some Housing staff and residents see that Homecoming, beyond being a wonderful, fun tradition, provides great opportunities for residents and staff to further our involvement and participation in the campus community," White said.

"I am very excited about getting some of the non-Greek residents involved in these long-standing traditions. It's just as much a part of the Tech experience as anything else," said Katerina Skourtis, a second-year Biomedical Engineering major and Harrison PL.

The dedication and effort that has been poured into this project has begun to bear fruit as Estrada indicated that FE resident participation in this year's Homecoming was expected to reach unprecedented levels. A total of 30 to 35 people are expected to attend from FE North alone.

Senior members of the FE residence halls see the burgeoning attendance as an indication of the prism through which future residents, from all Housing dormitories, will view Homecoming and as a contribution to the Housing Department's establishment in the Institute.

"I believe that getting housing residents involved with Homecoming activities is great," said William Elum, Smith Residence Hall Director.

Smith, a member of the quartet of dorms that comprise FE South, houses part of the populace that will be targeted for participation over the next few years.

"It adds another dimension to Homecoming and, in [another] way, puts a special spotlight on the department in terms of showing how our residents are engaged and getting involved," Elum said.