Homecoming to be bigger than ever

The two-day festival will feature free food, a concert and a carnival. Students eager to blow away the Bulldogs before Penn's Homecoming game against Yale will have an extra chance to psyche themselves up for the big football game this year For the first time ever, student-oriented Homecoming events will be held over two days, organizers said. Beginning Friday, students and alumni will be treated to a concert by hip-hop veterans Digital Underground, a carnival and a performing-arts show in the former Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity house. The Social Planning and Events Committee's Concerts and Special Events divisions, along with the Tangible Change Committee, the junior and senior class boards and the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life collaborated to organize and fund the events, which are geared specifically toward current students. The activities are separate from the traditional fall Homecoming events for alumni that center around the football game. "It is important that so many student groups worked in collaboration to provide an event that is comprehensive and caters to many student interests," said Junior Class President Lisa Marshall, a College junior. "It is going to be a fantastic weekend," said Homecoming Co-Chairperson Jennifer Brown, a College junior. "The intent was to make Homecoming a bigger event this year by including a little bit of everything so everyone at Penn will enjoy the weekend." The "little bit of everything" begins next Friday at 7 p.m. at 3615 Locust Walk with the opening of a new student center in the former Phi Sig house. Following the grand opening, various performing-arts groups will play at the center to kick off the weekend. Starting today on Locust Walk, the Homecoming Committee will be accepting entries for the naming of the house. Entries will be accepted through next Thursday and the name will be announced on October 30. Digital Underground will play in the Harrison Auditorium of the University Museum at 9 p.m. on Friday. The group is known for their 1990 hit, The Humpty Dance. In September, the group released their most recent album, Who Got the Gravy?, which has enjoyed only moderate sales. The event, open only to Penn students, "promises to be a sweet show," said Wharton senior Graham Rigby, chairperson of SPEC Special Events. Tickets for the concert will go on sale for $10 starting today at 10 a.m. Following the show's tentative 10 p.m. end, a pancake breakfast will be held in the Class of 1920 Dining Commons until 3 a.m. The Bulldogs better beware on Saturday. The class boards are sponsoring a Bulldog Blowout before the game. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on College Green, students can try their luck at jousting, wall climbing and moon-walking, as well as basketball and football contest games. Pom-poms and buttons will also be given away to cheer on the Quakers during their big game, which begins at 1:30 p.m. at Franklin Field. Of course, food will be available on the Green as well. The Penn Alumni Society will sell food at the Grill and Chill during the Blowout.

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