Committee reveals homecoming theme

After a week of carnival themed decorations, cotton candy and free homecoming T-shirts, the College at Brockport’s homecoming committee has officially announced the theme for the 2012 homecoming week.

In conjunction with the grand opening of the Special Events Recreation Center (SERC), the theme will be SERC du Brockport: A circus for all ages.

Brent Swanson, co-chair of the homecoming committee, said the theme was chosen because the week of homecoming coincides with the grand opening of the SERC.

Although the SERC will open during summer break, the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new $44 million project will be held Friday, Sept. 14.

The committee announced the upcoming theme Friday, April 27 in the Union Ballroom. Last year’s homecoming king Scott Harrington and queen Ashley Krasicki made the official announcement.

“This past week (Monday, April 23 to Friday, April 27), there was a carnival theme atmosphere in Seymour Union,” Swanson said. “There was cotton candy, snow cones and other carnival themed things all geared to amp up the excitement.”

Homecoming Week will begin Monday, Sept.  10.

Swanson said that the week before there will be events across campus intended to build excitement.

“We want to really build up school pride and spirit before the official week,” Swanson said.

From the start of the fall semester to homecoming week, the committee will sponsor green and gold Fridays.

At the weekly event, different minute-to-win-it games will be featured. Participating students and staff will have the chance to win different prizes.

Although an official schedule for homecoming week events has not yet been released, Swanson said that as of now, they do have a rough idea for event dates.

Tentatively, Swanson said the entire week will be a variety of carnival themed events, with Thursday, Sept. 13 being the traditional pageants when the homecoming king and queen will be named.

At the start of the fall semester, students interested in running for king or queen can fill out an application. A committee reviews the applications and finalists are selected.

The finalists compete in different activities such as the can-castle building and an official pageant where they display different types of attire, such as formal wear and Brockport spirit.

After the pageant audience members can vote for the king and queen. Student votes count for 2/3 of the overall score and the final 1/3 comes from the panel’s votes.

“At the Pep Rally we announce the king and queen,” Swanson said. “We are working to identify additional opportunities for the king and queen to get more involved on and off campus this year after the homecoming parade is over, such as tossing the coin [at the opening coin toss] at an athletic game.”

The annual pep rally will take place Friday, Sept. 14, followed by the homecoming parade Saturday, Sept. 15. The theme for the parade will be related to the week’s overall SERC de Brockport theme.

Swanson said the parades theme will have a more targeted focus than the general theme, but that has not yet been decided.

The homecoming parade will feature floats decorated by the campus resident halls. As of Monday, April 30 the parade route had not been announced.

In addition, homecoming will feature tabling in the Union and free giveaways.

Every year the committee also selects a charity to raise money for. The proceeds raised will go toward the chosen charity.

For the 2012 homecoming, the committee has not yet selected a charity. Last year, the committee donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

“I love the theme,” Matt Barone said in an email to The Stylus. Barone is the  assistant director for Student Union and Activities and advisor for the Homecoming Student Steering Team.

“I think it is a great way to celebrate our new building on campus and create a lot of excitement for Homecoming. I think the "SERCus" feel is going to be a really fun way for our Alumni and current students to interact and enjoy all that Brockport has to offer.”