Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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In front of more than 3,000 cheering Homecoming participants, Willie the Wildcat threw a Texas A M University dummy into the first Homecoming bonfire in more than five years. The bonfire was only one of several changes in Homecoming, which Jami Nelson, Panhellenic Council Homecoming Day Committee representative, said participants welcomed. The important thing to remember about the greek system is that changes are good. They keep it exciting, and they give it life, Nelson, junior in journalism and mass communications, said. We decided to implement a lot of these changes because it was time to update Homecoming. Chris Hansen, Interfraternity Council Homecoming Day Committee and senior in nuclear engineering, said Greek Affairs coordinated a task force to suggest changes after 1996 Homecoming. The task force was divided into five groups: competitive events, chapter relations, pairings, service, and constraints and finance. One of the task force ' s suggestions was to increase body-building safety. The competition combined cheerleading stunts and dancing, so K-State cheerleaders conducted a safety clinic for homecoming chairs. Nelson said two of the biggest changes came with the float competition and Paint it Purple service project. We felt like these were two competitions everybody could compete in because with body building you ' re pretty much limited to athletes, she said. There has been so much emphasis over the past few years on body building. I think we had our purposes skewed because it was worth more than a service project that helped the community. Float competition was worth more points than previous years, and Greek Affairs worked with United Way to provide service opportunities for teams rather than making teams find their own projects. Trent Schaaf, Kansas State University Association of Residence Halls said the residence halls took a larger role in helping with events. In addition to sponsoring Crazy Cat Kickoff, a competition open to residence halls, KSUARH also distributed prizes for Purple Prizes Day in the K-State Student Union. We had more participation behind the scenes, Schaaf, senior in architectural engineering, said. In years past we ' ve done a lot of participating but not a lot of planning. Homecoming had been primarily a greek event, Hansen said. He said they made steps to change that with events, like the bonfire, which were open to the community and alumni. Homecoming is not a greek thing, Nelson said. It ' s a K-State thing, and that ' s an emphasis we ' re trying to make this year. by barbara hollingsworth homecoming teams welcome updated competitions 12. homecoming

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K-State mascot the Wildcat pumps up crowd at Stadium during Homecoming Pant Chant event and More than students and attended to show support before the A M University game. (Photo Brandon White) homecoming.11

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Homecoming participants in the Crazy Cat Kickoff make human ice-cream sundaes on the faces of their teammates. The activity was a part of the games for residence hall members involved in homecoming. Winners of the event received points that went towards the total points, which were needed to win the homecoming title. (Photo by Brandon White) Members of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, Delta Tau Delta fraternity and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity walk with their float during the Homecoming parade as it passes through Aggieville, Oct. 18. The trio placed second in the float competition, fourth in spirit banner and second in body building. They also placed third overall. (Photo by Ivan Kozar) Members of Delta Delta Delta sorority, Sigma Chi and Phi Gamma Delta fraternities march the parade route during the annual homecoming parade. More than 1,300 students wearing various homecoming attire, walked the Aggieville and City Park streets, played music, performed antics and demonstrated K- State pride hours before kickoff. (Photo by Brandon White) fast facts the winners spirit banner student organizations: Black Student Union residence hall scholarship house division: 1. Strong Complex 2. Smurthwaite Smith Moore greek division: 1. Chi Omega Delta Upsilon Lambda Chi Alpha 2. Alpha Xi Delta Alpha Tau Omega float residence hall scholarship house division: —I 1. Strong Complex 2. Smurthwaite Smith Moore greek division: 1. Delta Delta Delta Phi Gamma Delta Sigma Chi 2. Gamma Phi Beta Sigma Phi Epsilon Delta Tau Delta pant the chant student organizations: Black Student Union residence hall scholarship house division: 1. Smurthwaite Smith Moore 2. Strong Complex greek division: 1. Chi Omega Delta Upsilon Lambda Chi Alpha 2. Alpha Chi Omega Pi Kappa Alpha body building residence hall scholarship house division: 1. Smurthwaite Smith Moore 2. Strong Complex greek division: 1. Delta Delta Delta Phi Gamma Delta Sigma Chi 2. Gamma Phi Beta Sigma Phi Epsilon Delta Tau Delta parade residence hall scholarship house division: 1. Strong Complex 2. Ford Haymaker greek division: 1. Delta Delta Delta Phi Gamma Delta Sigma Chi 2. Kappa Alpha Theta Phi Kappa Theta Delta Sigma Phi overall homecoming winners student organizations: Black Student Union residence hall scholarship house division: 1. Strong Complex 2. Smurthwaite Smith Moore greek division: 1. Delta Delta Delta Phi Gamma Delta Sigma Chi 2. Alpha Xi Delta Alpha Tau Omega homecoming.