By Samantha Smith
Student Activities is bringing Youngstown State University pride to the homecoming season with its theme of “Penguins Unite.”
Carolyn Jesko, assistant director of programming for Student Activities, explained what homecoming does for the university and students.
“Homecoming is kind of a time to celebrate YSU pride and spirit, welcome alumni back to campus and also a chance for students to get involved and engaged in some events that [Student Activities] have,” Jesko said.
Events this year include Fall Fire Fest, Build-A-Penguin, Red and White Day, a silent disco, the homecoming parade and the homecoming football game. The Homecoming Royalty will then be announced at the game. These events will take place Oct. 13 to Oct. 15.
Austin Angus, a senior music education major, was nominated by the Chi Alpha fraternity and said what he feels about homecoming court and the preparation for homecoming.
“Homecoming has definitely been a wild ride. It’s been very busy, but been so fun and enjoyable,” Angus said. “It’s really great to represent my organization for the university.”
Starting off the homecoming events, students can enjoy food, activities and entertainment at Penguin Production’s Fall Fire Fest Oct. 13 from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the M-71 parking lot.
Following this event, students can create their own stuffed penguin at the Build-A-Penguin event Oct. 14. The Student Activities’ Instagram page will post the day of the location of the event.
After Build-A-Penguin, a silent disco will be held for students to listen to different kinds of music with friends from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. at The Hub in Kilcawley Center.
Red and White Day is also Oct. 14 where students wear their YSU gear and can participate in activities provided on campus including an obstacle course with a chance to win prizes.
Student organizations will lead a parade at 12 p.m. Oct. 15 from Wood Street to the north side of the YSU stadium. The deadline for student organizations to participate in the parade was Oct. 1, but Carrie Anderson, associate director of student involvement for Student Activities, said she would allow student organizations to continue to register for the parade until Oct. 7.
“Our soft deadline for [the parade] was Oct. 1, but I’m willing to take it up until Friday just in case there’s a couple more people that want to get involved because I know it takes a lot more coordination, getting a trailer,” Anderson said. “I’m willing to give them a couple more days to kind of get organized because we want to have as many people involved as we can.”
The homecoming game will then begin at 2 p.m. with Homecoming Royalty being announced during halftime.
Anderson said she hopes students use these events as an opportunity to meet others and support YSU while having fun.
“The hope is that [students] get more social opportunities to meet different students and to continue to get that sense of belonging to stay here at YSU and find a good niche of people,” Anderson said. “Hopefully help [students] get excited and then also coming out to our sporting events to support our teams.”
For more information about homecoming or Student Activities, visit the Student Activities page on YSU’s website.