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12 October 2005

JSU Homecoming—"Hollywood Nights"

By Randy Wilson
JSU News Bureau


Jacksonville State University's Homecoming Week 2005 is just around the corner. The theme of this year's celebration is "Hollywood Nights: Lights, Camera, Action." Homecoming activities will culminate in the JSU vs. Tennessee Tech game set for 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Paul Snow stadium.

Homecoming week is expected to attract more than 14,000 fans, including alumni, students, and parents. Several events are planned to make it a fun and exciting week.

Events connected with Homecoming Week begin on Thursday, October 13 with the Homecoming Pageant. The pageant will be held in Leone Cole Auditorium at 7:00 pm. Contestants are sponsored by student groups. Ten finalists will be chosen during the pageant.

Five finalists are chosen by the general student population, and the student body votes among the five for a winner and court. The election will be held on the third floor in the Academic Center for Excellence in the Theron Montgomery Building from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 20.  Miss Homecoming will be announced at the pep rally/ bonfire on October 27. The event will be held at Paul Carpenter field at 8:00 p.m.

Judging for the Banner Competition will also be held on October 27. The top three banners will be announced and displayed during the football game. The deadline for submitting an entry form is October  21.

Cash prizes will be awarded as follows: $400 for first place, $300 for second, and $200 for third. For more information about the banner competition, call the Office of Student Life at (256)782-5491.

In addition, all organizations wishing to enter the float competition must submit an entry form by October  21. Cash prizes will be awarded for the top three floats, and the winners will be announced during the football game. For more information of the float requirements and stipulations, call Justin Lord at (256)782-8493.

Another competition open to all students and faculty departments is the Door Decoration Competition. All students and faculty are encouraged to decorate their dorm room doors or office doors in support of Homecoming. Judging will take place on Wednesday, October 26. Winners will be announced on 92J at 4:00 p.m. the next day.

Also on Wednesday, October 26, Karaoke in the Café will take place in the Jack Hopper Dining Hall from 11:00 a.m. until 1 p.m. All students and faculty/staff are encouraged to come out and sing support for the Gamecocks.

Several events are planned for the weekend beginning on Friday, October 28. The Alumni House will be open on Friday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to  4:00 p.m. The Alumni Association invites everyone to use the front lawn to see the Homecoming Parade on Saturday.

On Friday, October 28, the Alumni Association invites all alumni who graduated or attended the university during the 1960's to attend a reunion dinner. The group will meet at McClellan Lodge around noon and dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. in Miller's gym at McClellan. The cost of the event is $10 per person, and reservations must be made in advance trough the alumni office. Reserved/group tickets are also available for the Homecoming game for $12.00 each. To buy tickets to the game or make dinner reservations, call Nancy Turner by Oct. 21 at (256) 782-5404.

The annual ROTC/Gamecock Battalion dinner and business meeting will be held on Friday, October  28. The event begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Gamecock Center. The guest speaker is Colonel Imelda Weddington, the 2005 Military Alumna of the year. Reservations are required and must be made by October 21. To make reservations or for more information, call the military science department at (256)782-5601 or send e-mail to rotc@jsu.edu.

In addition, the Class of 1955 hosts their 50th year reunion on October 28. The event takes place at 6:30 p.m. on the 11th floor of Houston Cole library. There is no charge for the banquet, but pre-registration is required. Everyone who graduated in 1955 received an invitation via the mail. However, if you know of anyone who did not receive an invitation, please call Nancy Turner at the Alumni House at (256)782- 5404.

Also being held on Friday, October 28 is the second annual Criminal Justice Alumni Reunion. All Criminal Justice Alumni are invited to attend the event beginning 7:30 p.m. on the 11th floor of Houston Cole library. A silent auction will be held during the event. All proceeds will benefit the Criminal Justice Scholarship Fund. Cost to attend the event is $17.50 per person, and registration is required. For more information, please call the criminal justice department at (256)782-5335.

The events for Homecoming Week continue on October 29. The first event of the day will be the fifth annual Gamecock Gallop beginning at 8:00 a.m. All runners will meet at Pete Mathews Coliseum. Entry fee to participate is $5.00 or $15.00 on the day of the event. Each paid entrant receives a tee-shirt, and awards will given to the top three male and female runners overall and in each age group. For more information on the Gamecock Gallop, call Jim McLaughlin at (256)782-8014 or e-mail him at Laughlin@jsu.edu.

Also on October 29 will be the annual Grey Echelon reunion. Check-in and rehearsal for the event will begin at 9:30 a.m. A pre-game performance by the Grey Echelon will begin at 3:30 p.m. in Paul Snow Stadium.

Another popular event will be the Homecoming Brunch, on October 29, hosted by President Meehan and family at his home on Trustee Circle. The event will take place between 10:30 a.m. and noon. Everyone is invited to attend.

One of most popular events will be the Homecoming Parade. The parade will begin in the parking lot of Taco Bell  on Pelham Road and will follow Pelham Rd. north toward the campus. The Ballerinas and the Southerners will follow the parade through Jacksonville. The parade will begin at 1:00 p.m. on October 29.

After the parade, everyone is invited to the field adjacent to the stadium for the Homecoming Cookout/Tailgate. The event begins at 1:30 p.m. Musical entertainment will be provided as well as plenty of free activities for the children. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and all the trimmings will be served under the red and white tent. The cost is $7.00 for adults and $5.00 for children.

And of course, the Gamecocks begin the Homecoming football game against Tennessee Tech at 4:00 p.m.  Halftime activities include the presentation of the Alumni of the Year Awards and the 2005 Homecoming queen and court.

The homecoming week events will conclude with a full performance by the Southerners and the Marching Ballerinas immediately following the game.

For more information on any event, call Alumni Affairs at (256)782-5404 or call the Office of Student Life at (256)782-5491.


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