Monday was nothing to dread this week as students began homecoming week with “Monday Mayhem” activities sponsored by the Student Activities Council.
Homecoming’s kickoff event was held on the Student Plaza with the help of the Alumni Association. Students rode a mechanical bull and had their caricatures drawn next to the plaza fountain, which spouted Tiger blue.
“We have given out free T-shirts and hats, and we also have a mechanical bull and a caricaturist to kick off the week and to let students know that this week will be fun,” Bryson Porter, SAC’s university traditions event coordinator, said.
Porter and his team of 15 have been planning for months. Along with Monday Mayhem, they have also put together Tuesday’s Tiger LipSync, Thursday morning’s UC Takeover and SAC’s Block Party for Thursday night. According to Porter, his team has covered the logistics for the upcoming events far in advance in order to avoid last-minute disasters.
The entire SAC committee, however, plays a role in all of the events this week, and this year all executive members have made it their responsibility to “hold each other accountable” while planning and executing this year’s homecoming, dubbed “Nightmare on Tiger Lane” by SAC. Students will be able to enjoy over 15 free events right on campus this week including a comedy show starring Lil Duval and a concert Friday night featuring T.I. and K. Camp.
“Definitely feel like it’s going to be more engagement than high-school homecomings,” freshman biomedical engineering major Caleb Walton said. “In college we are way more open, and we are all trying to get lit together.” This year, SAC decided to add events that students “don’t really have to know anybody at to enjoy.” Many of the students who attend these events are freshmen.
However, some upperclassmen are still excited to be a part of all that SAC has planned. Jerrica Lindsey, 24, is a senior who plans to graduate in December.
“I am anticipating this week since I didn’t socialize at all in my previous years,” Lindsey said. “So now I’m trying to make up for three years in two weeks.”
“Nightmare on Tiger Lane” aims to give students the chance to take a break from their academic lives by showing their U of M school spirit. SAC is able to present all of these events through the Student Activities Fee, a fee that is charged at the beginning of the semester to each student.
“Our goal every year is for students to say that homecoming week was better than the previous year, but we also want students to anticipate the football game,” Tonika Ingram, SAC president, said. “The focal point is the football game.”
After all of the events this week, students will be able to show their tiger pride Saturday at the Liberty Bowl as the Memphis Tigers take on the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in an American Athletic Conference game.
