October brings with it cold nights, falling leaves and
Homecoming. Saint Louis University kicked off Homecoming with the
glow party last Friday and will wrap up festivities this Saturday
with Billiken Men’s Soccer, complete with a coronation and
fireworks.

This year the Student Activities Board is trying new things to
make the Homecoming celebration more enjoyable for students.

They are trying different events as well as trying to improve
others. While SAB has reduced the overall number of events, they
have tried to focus that extra energy on bringing the students
better events.

“I want to make this something the student body cares about,”
said Laura Spencer, co-chair of the homecoming committee.

Spencer, her co-chair Jake Baisch and numerous SAB members have
been working since June to put together a homecoming that will draw
in more students as well as get students involved in more of the
activities SAB has coming up.

A difference came in the form of blacklights, thumping bass and
glowsticks. Not all new ideas take. Last Friday’s Glow Party was an
attempt at something other than the traditional dance students
normally associate with Homecoming. However, not as many attended
as SAB hoped would. Approximately 300 students danced away in the
Simon Recreation Center.

Even still, the idea was to try and give the students something
different that they will enjoy.

“I think people generally had a good time. Whenever you try a
new idea, it’s a work in progress,” Spencer said.

With the Homecoming court talent pageant and comedians on
Thursday; four bands, including nationally touring Dashboard
Confessional, playing Friday; and a 5K run, Golf Cart Parade, Men’s
Soccer and the Homecoming Court coronation on Saturday, there is
more than enough to bring students in.

The Golf Cart Parade on Saturday has been popular in previous
years, and there are a number of groups participating. SAB has
received over 45 applications, and Baisch expects there to be more
than that in the parade itself.

“A lot of groups are participating,” Baisch said. “There are a
lot of creative ideas.”

What is expected to be one of the biggest events is the
Dashboard Confessional concert on Friday. Baisch was excited to get
the nationally touring act. Part of trimming down the number of
events is to free up resources for an event like the concert.

“We’re expecting a lot of people [for the concert],” Baisch
said. “As long as the weather holds, It’ll be good to have an
outdoor concert.”

One aspect of Homecoming that is receiving special attention is
Homecoming Court.

“We had representatives from 17 student organizations apply,”
Spencer said. “The Court is something I have really been trying to
do differently.”

In order to try and ensure that the applicants are chosen more
fairly, their names are taken off the applications before being
submitted to a panel of five judges.

Spencer said she tried to create a more representative court,
one that reflects more of the student body.