The Education Leadership office in Ball Hall was out to set therecord straight. Like the Tiger football team, the office'sperformance during homecoming last year left them wanting to dobetter.
"They told me that we got honorable mention last year," saidRebecca Rosen, assistant in the Leadership Office. "They wanted usto do better this year."
Rosen, along with Jonathan Hulgan and Debbie Mitchell, pushedtheir school spirit to the limit and won the Residence HallAssociation Homecoming Office Decoration contest.
Three Tigers guard the outer doors. The downstairs office dripswith streamers and clusters of balloons in blue and gray. Alife-size stuffed tiger prowls the lobby, and memorabilia from pastfootball seasons graces the walls. Offices for "Tom II" and "TommyWest" are marked with blue paw prints and pompoms.
"We just wanted a party atmosphere," said Mitchell, who spent anhour braiding streamers for the walls.
The Leadership Office beat three other offices in the thirdannual contest, which shared the homecoming theme of "Setting theRecord Straight." This year's event was split into two divisions:one for office decorations and one for door decor only. The RHAHomecoming Office Decoration contest drew 10 entrants. Four groupsentered in the office division and seven in the door division. Oneoffice entered both divisions. An RHA panel of students andexecutive board members judged the contest. The winners willreceive a catered lunch for six from Aramark.
"Homecoming is always a fun time for The University," saidBrandi Caruthers, RHA vice president. "We are excited to helpsupport and provide morale for The U of M."
Cindy Fong, admissions and recruitment assistant, said thecity's musical heritage inspired her winning design in the doordivision.
"Elvis is the king here, and our Memphis Tigers are important tothe city, so combining the two made sense," Fong said. The WilderTower Admissions Office doors feature a larger-than-life tigersporting a white jumpsuit, a la Elvis. Colorful records form theshape of a number one, and footballs frame the door with the nameof each player on the team.
The decorations will remain up for the rest of homecomingweek.
