Photo: President Robert Henry holds up a torch borrowed from the Winter Olympics in 2002 and used it to light the celebratory flame during the Homecoming Kickoff on Oct. 26 on the Quad Lawn. Performances from the university spirit squads preceded the lighting. (Krista Spears/The Campus)
Students are getting amped for a weekend of Homecoming activities.
About 11 participating organizations worked to incorporate the theme “Let the Games Begin” into each event hosted during the week, said Jack Malone, mass communications senior and Homecoming chairman.
“The Homecoming committee decided on that theme after the Olympics,” he said. “We felt like that was an all-encompassing theme.”
President Robert Henry used an Olympic torch to light the Homecoming Kickoff flame Oct. 25.
The torch was pulled from the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Malone said.
“Bob Spinks, chairman of the sociology and justice department, works with United Way and was a torch bearer at the Salt Lake City Olympics,” he said. “He got to keep the torch after, and he let us borrow it.”
The Olympic theme also appears on the Homecoming T-shirts, with a printed torch on the front, he said.
Organizations will build their spirit structures for judging Friday on the Quad Lawn.
“It’s neat to see how each organization utilizes their space,” Malone said.
Lip Sync will be 7 p.m. Friday in Henry J. Freede Wellness and Activity Center. Each group will perform a choreographed routine.
“I’m excited for Lip Sync because it is really awesome,” said Astiana Flipping, chemistry sophomore. “I know everybody will do well.”
The women’s and men’s basketball teams will play at noon and 2 p.m. Saturday, respectively.
The games return after last year’s opposing team canceled, according to Student Publications’ archives. Officials hosted a carnival instead.
“We are really excited to bring back the basketball games this year,” Malone said. “It is a good opportunity for the OCU community to come together and be a part of this.”
