By: Jamie Kania

The fall semester tradition of homecoming/parents week at Buffalo State College kicks off Tuesday with the preliminary round of the annual king and queen competition in Campbell Student Union.

The king and queen competition is just one of four in which students can compete. For those non-competitive students who still want to get in on the homecoming action, there are also events like the pep rally.

Tom Koller, associate athletics director for external affairs, is in his forth year as homecoming committee chairman.  Homecoming attendance numbers have increased over the last three years under his direction.  In 2001, 200 students attended the homecoming pep rally. Last year more than 1000 students attended the rally.

Koller continues to try to put the energy back into homecoming. By adding new events each year like the new lip sync competition, he hopes to gain even more student participation.

The five-day celebration is supposed to be an opportunity for BSC students, staff, faculty and the community to get together to build and promote support for the college.  Despite Koller’s enthusiasm, some BSC students still don’t know much about homecoming.

When asked if she will be attending or participating in homecoming events this year, Jessica Snekser said: “Oh!  Is it this weekend?”

Snekser is a commuter student who feels she isn’t aware of homecoming and the events leading up to it because it is not promoted enough on campus. 

“I think that if I heard more about it I would actually go,” she said.

Senior Jan Wopperer agrees.

“I saw a little bit of one of the homecoming events last year, but that’s only because I unintentionally walked right into the middle of it during Bengal Pause,” Wopperer said.

Koller and the homecoming committee have put a lot of effort into this year’s homecoming events in hopes that attendance and student participation will continue to increase and commuter students like Wopperer and Snekser aren’t left in the dark.

Koller said homecoming is unique because it is one of the few campus events that can bring all the different parts of the college community together. With a long lineup of activities all leading up to the homecoming game, he said, “Bottom line: there is something to do for everyone!”

Homecoming activities: www.buffalostate.edu/homecoming

• lip sync competition
• pep rally
• USG chicken barbeque (free for students)
• shopping cart float competition
• homecoming parade
• student tailgate party
• king and queen contest
• bungee races

The Bengal’s homecoming football game will be at 1:05 p.m. Saturday at Coyer Field against Newport News.

For more information there is a homecoming/parents weekend information packet available at the Student Union Information Desk, the USG offices in Student Union Room 416 and the student life office in Student Union Room 400. http://www.buffalostate.edu/pdf/3dcampusmap.pdf

Jamie Kania can be contacted at: kanijm00@buffalostate.edu