Bradley students can break out their sombreros when “Fiesta de Bradley” hits the Hilltop.
The fiesta-themed Homecoming 2009 will begin Wednesday, with activities throughout the week until Oct. 3.
Activities Council U-Spirit Co-Coordinator Kelsey McClellan is coordinating Homecoming Week and said a main goal of ACBU is to reach more people. She said some additions in planning may encourage higher student participation.
“I feel there is more planned for this year’s Homecoming,” she said. “We really tried to push for more campus spirit because in the past, people didn’t even know Homecoming was going on.”
“Fiesta de Bradley” starts Sept. 30 with Fiesta de la Luz, which includes a pep rally on Olin Quad and the traditional lighting of the “B” on Bradley Hall. The “B” will remain lit through the week to promote school spirit, McClellan said.
The celebrations continue on Thursday when the university celebrates Founder’s Day with a ceremony at 10 a.m. in Dingeldine Music Center. Alpha Epsilon Pi’s Foamcoming Dance will be at 8 p.m. that night on the corner of Duryea Place and Bradley Avenues. Homecoming 2009 marks AEPi’s second year of participating in the week’s events, though the Foamcoming Dance’s location has changed since last year.
“AEPi’s dance was a really big hit last year,” McClellan said. “We didn’t want a high school homecoming dance, but we knew a lot of people still missed their high school dance.”
Other celebratory options on Oct. 1 include a screening of “The Three Amigos” at 8 p.m. in the Marty Theatre and a performance of “The Pajama Game” at 8 p.m. in the Hartmann Center.
The fiesta continues on Friday, when ACBU and the Association of Residence Halls hosts a Queso Dip Contest at 5 p.m. in Lydia’s Lounge. Students have a variety of entertainment options on this day as well, including a women’s volleyball game versus University of Northern Iowa at 7 p.m. in the Markin Family Student Recreation Center. Lambda Chi Alpha will host The Funky Munks, a Red Hot Chili Peppers cover band, at 8 p.m. on the quad.
As the week winds down, students can run with alumni in the Gary R. Tippett Memorial 5K Race on Oct. 3. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. in the Markin Center.
The Big Fiesta starts at 4 p.m. on Oct. 3 at Shea Stadium with a tailgate party and pep rally before men’s soccer takes on Drake University. Shuttles will be available for transportation from the Michel Student Center to the stadium. Jared Bartman will perform at Shea Stadium that night. Students can round out the night with a visit to the fiesta-themed Late Night BU from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the Markin Center.
Junior psychology major Brittany Sheryk said she’s planning on attending the Homecoming soccer game and will likely go to the pep rally as well. She said attending the events is important to show newcomers to Bradley that the student body has school spirit.
“I think all freshmen should attend Homecoming events because it’s another good way to meet people you never met before and start off your first year on a happy note,” she said.