As the temperatures drop and the trees litter the Green with their leaves, most campuses around the country begin the hibernation process. But ask any current student or alumnus and they’ll tell you, as the days get cooler, Northwestern heats up!
This Monday marks the start of NW’s annual Homecoming festivities. The celebration—beginning with the eagerly anticipated dodgeball tournament and concluding Saturday night with the homecoming dance—is designed to further connect current students while bringing together the NW alumni community.
The week is packed with unique NW traditions that give students opportunities to celebrate our community—past and present. With events such as the homecoming football game, Spread Red Shoot Out, Medallion Hunt, Red Raider Road Race, Morning on the Green and Northwestern’s Best Dance Crew, there’s bound to be something of interest for everyone.
The week will kick off Monday night at 6 p.m. in the RSC with the annual dodgeball tournament. The tournament, divided into male and female brackets, takes place Monday and Tuesday, ending Wednesday night with a final championship at 10 p.m.
As Krystal Van Wyk, former Homecoming royalty and recent graduate, said, “If you’re looking for a student hot spot during the week, go to the RSC gym for dodgeball! Everyone’s there!”
While it’s true that the tournament gives students a chance to compete, it’s also a chance to have some serious fun. It provides an opportunity to commune with other students and even to prove the proverb, “If you can dodge traffic, you can dodge a ball,” made popular by a certain 2004 movie.
New this year to the lineup of Homecoming events is the Spread Red Shoot Out. The Shoot Out is sure to keep students on their toes as they compete in the “craziest squirt gun game ever.” The event, beginning Monday, pits student against student as they attempt to outwit and outplay all others in hopes of remaining dry.
Saturday hosts many of the more established traditions, including Morning on the Green, the Red Raider Road Race and the Homecoming football game.
On Saturday night the homecoming dance will start at 9 p.m. in the RSC gym. Its music, ranging from classic 90s pop to current tunes, is sure to get your heart pumping as you celebrate with friends, old and new.