Don’t even bother trying to contain yourself, because this Homecoming week, “SLU’s Going Hog Wild!”

Homecoming events began Monday with lunch and inflatables on the Quad. Participants enjoyed picnic paraphernalia-hotdogs, hamburgers, potato chips, pasta salad and cookies-while several daring students raced through inflatable obstacle courses, rode mechanical bulls and smacked each other with foam dumbbells.

“It reminded me of American Gladiator, the best show ever,” said Mark Sankoorikal, a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences.

On Monday, karaoke was featured at Salsarita’s at 8:00 p.m.

On Tuesday at 12:15 p.m., those wearing SLU spirit wear were surprised with free Ted Drewes ice cream and a Ted Drewes prize giveaway on the Quad.

Also on Tuesday, 26-year-old comedian Steve Hofstetter, “The Thinking Man’s Comic,” stormed The Billiken Club at 8:00 p.m. Hofstetter, a Columbia graduate, takes pride in his college-oriented humor and 100,000 Facebook friends.

“That [was] interesting, since Facebook has become an obsession of SLU students and he is ‘the Facebook guy,'” said Homecoming co-chair Madeline Elliot.

Wednesday’s Rubber Duck Derby, chaired by sophomore Student Activities Board member Ryan Wiesen, saw five heats of plastic waterfowl race toward the finish line at the fountain in front of Cook Hall. Ducks cost students $2 each. Half of the proceeds were donated to Children’s Miracle Network, with first- and second-prize winners splitting the remainder of the earnings.

On Wednesday evening, the film Kicking and Screaming-featuring Will Ferrell and Robert Duvall-was projected onto a giant screen in the Quad.

From 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. today, a blood drive will be held in the Saint Louis Room of the Busch Student Center.

“We hope to be able to help save a great many lives through the generosity of the student body,” Homecoming co-chair Jim Crowley said.

Tonight, in congruence with this year’s Homecoming theme, a bonfire and dance will be held at 8:30 p.m. on the Laclede astroturf. SLU athletes will attend to socialize during the festivities.

TKO has pledged to DJ without charge if students raise $250 for Hurricane Katrina relief. This bonfire replaces the traditional semi-formal dance, although, according to SAB President Jenny Thumann, “Music will be provided by TKO so students can still bust a move.”

Friday brings country music artist Chris Cagle in concert with opening act Bomshel on the Georgetown parking lot behind Griesedieck Hall at 7:30 p.m. Cagle, who went gold with his first two albums and has already produced four top-10 hits, will belt out knockouts such as “Miss Me Baby,” “Hey Ya’ll” and “Wal-Mart Parking Lot.”

Opening duo Bomshel, comprised of fiddler Kristy O. and vocalist Buffy Lawson, began their career in Nashville and will perform pieces such as “Country Music Love Song” and “I Am Pretty.”

This is the first year a country act has played during Homecoming Week, affirms Crowley, who said, “It will be a great show!”

Events culminate on Saturday, Oct. 1 with a 5:30 p.m. Golf Cart Parade eastward across campus.

Following this SLU tradition is the 7:00 p.m. Homecoming soccer game against Michigan at Hermann Stadium. Halftime, which will include a fireworks display, which includes the coronation of Homecoming King and Queen. Last year’s Queen, Jen Prudencio, will give away the crown as well as flowers provided by the Alumni Association.

The Homecoming Court consists of five King and five Queen candidates. The King candidates are, in alphabetical order, Nathan Byrd, John Michael D’Agostino, Scott Gevaert, James Meinert and Thiago Takahashi.

Contenders for Queen are Christine Campbell, Dale-Ellen O’Neill, Lindsay Ryan, Jenny Thumann and Amy Tocco. Homecoming Court members attend events all week to meet and speak with underclassmen.

Each student organization was asked to nominate one potential King and one potential Queen or, in the case of fraternities and sororities, one male or female candidate.

Faculty evaluated each application based on “campus involvement, leadership positions held, academic achievement, community service on and off campus, embodiment of SLU’s Jesuit mission and, of course, SLU spirit,” the Homecoming chairs said.

Faculty then narrowed the lists to five, and each of the 10 candidates was interviewed by three-person faculty panels. Students may go to http://www.slu.edu/departments/studentlife/organizations/homecoming/ to see scores from these interviews-which account for half of a candidate’s score-and to vote for Homecoming King and Queen.

This year’s Homecoming festivities combine celebration and contribution. “While Homecoming is a huge party, we want students to remember that SLU is a Catholic, Jesuit university, and so we sponsor two events during the week to give back to the community,” Crowley said.

Thumann elaborates, “At SAB, we’ve combined community service and fundraising events, such as the blood drive and Rubber Duck Derby, with events that are just about having a good time, such as the bonfire and Homecoming concert.”

Both Thumann and Crowley agree that the only foreseen glitch is the possibility of rainy weather, although, as Crowley notes, “The forecast is looking great for the week, so I’m happy.”

Thumann said, “As long as the weather holds out, I’m confident that the months of planning our Homecoming co-chairs put into these events will pay off and the week will be a huge success.”

Sept. 30 through Oct. 2 is also Parents and Alumni Weekend. Through the attendance of families, parents and alumni, organizers hope to demonstrate, as Crowley says, the “strength of the SLU tradition and the role SLU plays in so many lives.”

Elliot, Crowley and SAB received considerable staff-member assistance in planning, booking and implementing this year’s events.

Adviser Shelly Friesz, from the Office of Student Life, coordinator of Student Involvement and SAB adviser, worked with the co-chairs throughout the summer to plan this week’s celebration. Staff also assisted in the interviewing and selecting Homecoming Court candidates.

Comments, questions and suggestions about Homecoming Week may be passed along to SAB via e-mail at [email protected]. If students have ideas for next year’s Homecoming or for future events during the year, Thumann invites them to “join us at one of our weekly [SAB] meetings, held every Tuesday at 6:00 [p.m.] in BSC 253.”

Crowley and Elliot, along with SAB, thank all volunteers for helping everything “to come off without a hitch.” Crowley also reminds students to get online and vote for Homecoming King and Queen.

Finally, they send the following message to students: “This weekend is for you! Have a great time and show your SLU spirit all week! Go hog wild!”