Courtney Klaus, Editor-In-Chief
You’ve seen the posters, received the emails and probably heard the gossip. There seems to be a lot of hype surrounding this year’s homecoming - so what’s actually going on next week?
Homecoming 2019 is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever, said Jack Schafer, public relations coordinator for the Campus Activities Board, and will have several new events to amplify the week, including an alcohol-friendly after party that’s open to the public.
“There have been a lot of after parties before, but they were not very well attended,” Schafer said. “This year we wanted people to have somewhere to go and actually make some memories, and not just have an awkward dance.”
Director of Student Activities Morgan Calvert said it was especially important that this year’s party have something that made it different from all previous years, so with some help from student government, they got the administration’s approval to serve alcoholic beverages.
Calvert said she reached out to Alumni Relations for help with the party because they had experience booking a bartender for university events. Student Life staff members will serve the role of “sober hosts.”
The party will start at 10 p.m. on Feb. 21 in the Jabara Black Box Theater immediately after the men’s basketball game.
To attend the party, students can either buy a presale ticket for $5 or they will be required to pay a $10 entry fee at the door. Presale tickets will be sold until Tuesday and all tickets are cash-only.
Schafer said students are encouraged to bring their non-Newman friends if they want.
“With people being able to bring their friends, I think it will create a fun atmosphere for everyone,” he said.
Both Newman students and non-Newman students in attendance must bring their ID.
Pizza Hut pizza will be provided and the musical guest is DJ Detroit.
Attendees over the age of 21 can “choose their own alcohol adventure,” Calvert said, with three options: Either up to three bottles of beer, up to three glasses of wine, or up to two mixed drinks. Attendees must pick one and cannot mix alcohol types.
The two beer options will be Bud Light and Corona. The wine options will be Merlot and a white Moscato. The mixed drink options will be “Jet Fuel” (Rum and Coke) and “Crimson and Contrails” (Vodka and cranberry juice). Non-alcoholic punch and water will be also be available.
The food and beverage catering inside comes at no extra charge.
But, the party isn’t the only new event students can look forward to next week, Calvert said.
Starting on Monday there will be a Johnny Jet Selfie Contest where students who take the most creative picture with Newman’s mascot can win prizes.
There will also be a miscellaneous Trivia Night at 7 p.m. on Monday in the Black Box hosted by CAB, where teams of three to six students will have a chance to take home a $200 prize.
Wednesday will present another opportunity for students to win prizes with a Scavenger Hunt at 8:30 p.m. in the Fugate Gymnasium. Then, at 9 p.m., Calvert said, there will be a “Party in the Gym” to get everyone hyped up for the game on Feb. 21.
In typical homecoming fashion, at 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 21, Great Western Dining will serve dinner before the women’s basketball game, and all students will be able to come eat for free. Free t-shirts will also be given away at the game.
The halftime event for the women’s basketball game will be a half-court contest where three randomly selected students who sign up will have the chance to win $200 for making a half-court shot. During the halftime of the men’s game, the homecoming king and queen will be announced.
Calvert said she hopes this year’s homecoming will give students the opportunity to have a “more collegiate” experience and will be successful enough to happen again in the future.
“I really want students to come together and celebrate and make this homecoming a campus tradition that they can look forward to every year,” she said.
PHOTO: STUDENTS WILL celebrate homecoming week Feb. 18-22 with a variety of new events, including a selfie contest, a trivia night and an after party with alcohol. Courtesy Photo, Newman Advancement
