looking over 0 note, sophomore Bethany Smith and freshman Melinda Birdwell weor mismatched clothes in the student center Oct. 27. Homecoming week offered students the opportunity to dress as their majors, wear mismatched clothes, and dress in black and gold. -JonathanLindsay . ~i~"""""""''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''~''' Ison No bison brings new tradition The Student Association added new excitement to traditional activities during Homecoming weekend, Oct. 28-29, with the Bison Bash, a group ofactivities held Friday night to prepare the crowd for the football game Saturday night. The new activities included the traditional bonfire, a band, a beat-boxing competition and a car bash, the reason behind the Bison Bash name. Senior Josh Bundy, Student Association president, said Homecoming week– end was changed this year because of a price increase of an old tradition. "In the past several years, the school had always hired a [live] bison to do tricks and entertain the Homecoming crowd," Bundy said. "This year, though, because ofa raise in cost, we JUSt thought it would be more beneficial to think ofsome new ideas to make inco new traditions." Sophomore Ryan Davenport, a member ofthe SA's Homecoming committee, said the SA strived to plan a weekend where students would support the football team. "We wanted an idea that would really srickand catch on with students," Davenport said. "I thinkwe did it because we were expecting around 200-500 students, and we had more than 1,000 show up [for the Bison Bash]." T he band Ol-Right, composed of graduate studenc C hris Casey, freshman Brandon Burcham, junior Seth Daggett and senior Matt Pruitt, provided musical . entertainment for the Bison Bash. "I really loved the band," freshman Samantha Cheatham said. "Ie was a nice touch because you could just mill around and listen to music." The Bison Bash also offered a b(m-boxing competition, which included a chapel announcement with President David Burks rapping, "Sit down, boy, and let me drop a beat, I'm Dr. Bizzle." Senior Scott Dueile and junior Parker Goats tied for the beat-boxing competition champion, and each won an iTunes gift certificate. Bison Bash attendees enjoyed complimentary hot chocolate and marshmallows to roast. "My favorite part was roasting marshmallows because I love the taste ofa good, crisp, burnt marshmallow," Cheatham said. "It was a really nice change from caf– eteria food." Although Bundy said the Bison Bash was a success because of the large turnout, some students wished some of the traditions could have stayed the same. "It made me sad the live bison wasn't thete to do his tticks," junior Laura Riley said. "I just really liked seeing the live animal, and plus, it was so exciting to see him run back and forth across the football field." Regardless of the loss ofthe live bison making an appearance during Homecoming weekend, Bundy said the feedback for the new activities was positive. "One ofthe SA's goals for this entire yeat is to serve the students in several areas," Bundy said. "I think we were able to do that, along with making it fun and worth– while for all who attended." -Emily Burrows photos continue on page 26 homecoming ' ''-1I
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