“Homecoming 2005: Forever Green & Gold” will give spectators the chance to see a female student eat a sundae out of a male student’s mouth and watch others slip and slide on mustard.
Homecoming starts today and will finish Sunday with the All-Alumni breakfast in Chumash Auditorium.
“Alumni, students, parents and the community are invited to join all the events for a weekend of autumn fun and Mustang spirit,” said Kim Gannon, director of alumni relations.
Starting today, students from different clubs, organizations, fraternities and sororities will hang banners in the UU Plaza. The club with the best banner will be announced during spirit hour at 11 a.m., and the winner will receive a free pizza party at Backstage Pizza.
Following UU Hour will be the 21st annual Laugh Olympics on Mott Lawn, which is like a “Double-Dare” competition, according to Alumni Program Coordinator Julia Ando.
The event includes a condiment slip and slide, a sundae-eating contest and much more. The winner of the event receives a free intramural team.
The Tri-County Blood Bank will also be on Mott Lawn for a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All participants will receive a free Jamba Juice smoothie.
Gannon said this year’s events are different for the clubs participating because they no longer have to participate in all five events to be eligible to win.
The festivities will continue on Friday with the Grand Reunion activities at 5:30 p.m. The Honored Alumni Awards and the Grand Reunion Banquet will be held in the Chumash Auditorium.
Gannon said that this year’s homecoming is different because it focuses on the new ‘Grand Reunion Banquet.’
“In the past two decades, Homecoming has focused on the past 50 years of alumni,” Gannon said. “This year the Grand Reunion will focus on alumni from 1955 and back . . . We expect about 70 graduates to come with their wives, husbands and other family members. That’s quite impressive considering that Cal Poly was a lot smaller during that era.”
The Homecoming fun continues on Saturday beginning with the annual Homecoming Parade at 10 a.m. on Higuera Street. Riding in the parade will be honored alumni, the Cal Poly marching band, Cal Poly clubs, fraternities and sororities, Fremont Hall, community groups, the mayor and fire department, local dance groups and Musty the Mustang.
After the parade, the athletics department is sponsoring the Mustang Corral Tailgate BBQ on Richard J. O’Neal Green behind Mustang Stadium. The event takes place at 1 p.m. and is open to the public. The 10th annual Alumni Association Wine Tasting will also occur at 1 p.m. behind the stadium. Gannon expects about 2,500 people to attend.
“The wine tasting is for alumni, parents, community members and students over 21,” Gannon said.
The main event is the Mustangs’ football game on Saturday at 4 p.m. against the No. 10 Eastern Washington. The game will have a huge impact on the Mustangs’ playoff hopes this season.
The 2005 Cal Poly Homecoming king and queen will be named at halftime. Those interested in voting can do so at kickoff. Cal Poly clubs and organizations nominated five men and five women who are competing for king and queen.
Homecoming will conclude with the All-Alumni Breakfast in Chumash Auditorium at 8:30 a.m on Sunday.
“This is just a great tradition for the university,” Gannon said. “It dates back to the early 1900s.”
“We invite all of our alumni to return to their alma mater and celebrate with friends and fellow alumni,” Gannon said in a press release. “Homecoming is a chance to visit the campus and keep up with the university, and reconnect with old friends and professors at the same time. And it’s just a lot of fun.”