For Homecoming 2010, the Northwestern Alumni Association is bringing you a new kind of royalty.
Last spring, Northwestern students were asked to nominate their peers for the 2010 Homecoming court. After surveying each proposal, the Student Homecoming Executive Board, in conjunction with the NAA, conducted more than 30 interviews before selecting the final 10 candidates—all seniors—for king and queen.
Traditionally, Northwestern has held Fall nominations and crowned a couple from each class. This year, “we wanted [the positions of King and Queen] to be something that students can aspire to,” said Homecoming 2010 Co-Chair and Communication senior, Beth Lynk, “not a popularity contest.”
The result is a pool of seniors that includes the chairman of A&O, the president of the Northwestern A Cappella Community Alliance, the co-chair of Arts Alliance and Waa-Mu and the head of Hillel. According to Lynk, that was the point. “We wanted seniors who had really made an impact and inroads at Northwestern.”
SESP senior and candidate for queen, Merrie Aaron, is confident in the new model. “It should generate spirit and pride within the Northwestern community,” she said. “I think it’s really a terrific new step toward homecoming royalty.”
The Spring 2010 announcement of royalty on May 30th allowed the full court to attend Wildcat Welcome this year, where they greeted more than 2,000 freshmen on their ‘March Through the Arch.’
“New students have this excitement that is so great,” said Communication senior and candidate for king Barry McCardel. “It is such a thrill to see it paralleled with ours.”
This year’s changes are the result of student feedback from previous years, as well as successful models from other universities.
Students generally wanted homecoming to utilize more publicity, sponsorships and integrated events, as well as community service. “Clearly, Northwestern students are incredibly engaged,” said Lynk.
Drawing on inspiration from this year’s theme, ‘Where the Wildcats Are,’ the Homecoming committee chose literacy as the focus of service. Book drives are being held in Evanston schools, and a Literacy Day will be held at the Evanston Public Library in combination with Make a Difference Day. The homecoming court will be present, reading to children.
To find homecoming models, the committee looked to Northwestern’s peers: both within the Big Ten and from a selection of small- to medium-sized, academically-similar institutions. From there, “we looked at what they did: what they did that worked, what they did that didn’t work, and what they did that we could adapt,” said Lynk.
Homecoming giveaways are another addition this year. Every Monday for a month leading up to Homecoming, NU gear—including Mardi Gras beads, sunglasses and sweatbands— is being distributed at different locations throughout campus. On Monday, Oct. 18, “Where the Wildcats Are” t-shirts will be available at the Rock.
“These are just little initiatives [because] sometimes there is a lack of pride on campus,” Lynk said.
Voting for king and queen begins Oct. 17 on the ASG website. The winners will be crowned after the first quarter of the Oct. 23 Homecoming game against Michigan State. Both are then expected to execute a project benefitting Northwestern.