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The DU programming board (DUPB) added a new aspect to Homecoming celebration this year: a dance.
The Homecoming Dance is tomorrow in the middle of DU Homecoming week, which began yesterday with field day and will wrap up on Saturday’s hockey game against the Minnesota State Mavericks at 7:07 p.m.
“The idea was an easy transition from many high school homecomings,” said sophomore Sam Estenson, a member of the traditions comittee of DUPB. “We just didn’t want it to be the formal, date-and-dinner kind of dance that many schools have. We want to make it fun, in an exciting location and appealing to everyone on campus.”
The dance will be held in KSHM in the Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management building from 9 p.m.-midnight. Entry is free.
There will be live music performed by students on the patio for the first hour, followed by a DJ taking requests in the ballroom. In addition, there will be a cash bar at the dance for students who are over 21.
Students should wear casual attire, but the programming board encourages them to dress for this year’s homecoming theme: western rodeo.
Free homecoming t-shirts will be given out at the dance with the image of Boone wearing a cowboy hat and lasso.
“Expanding homecoming has always been something [the programming board] has wanted to do,” said “We were just fortunate enough to get enough funding this year to make everything fall into place.”
In addition, this year’s homecoming week will feature the first official “Pioneer Pregame,” which will take place on Friday from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
The pregame will have student group booths with free giveaways, food and beer garden specials that will line the Coors Fitness Center before the first homecoming hockey game against the Minnesota State Mavericks.
“The entire DU campus is really making a push for school spirit this year, so we are eager to join in the effort,” said Estenson.
Estenson said he encourages students to wear the free t-shirts that were given away at the dance to the pregame.
“The main idea is to promote school spirit not just by going to the athletic events,” he said. “We should show that we are proud to be at the University of Denver and be aware of how lucky we are to be living and studying here. The board is doing just that by making the new homecoming week a real celebration.”
Homecoming week will also feature trivia competitions between students today, a sidewalk chalk competition on Thursday, the annual homecoming parade on Saturday at 3 p.m. and the Taste of DU event outside Coors Fitness Center from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday.
“We’ve been working really hard to improve every event this year,” said Estenson.
