Union University hosted its annual Homecoming celebration during the week of Oct. 30, wrapping the festivities up with new competition for the Buster Bowl and an exciting Homecoming Court reveal during the basketball games Saturday night, Nov. 5.
The games ended the week victoriously, drawing a large and energetic crowd. The Lady Bulldogs rose over Illinois Wesleyan University, finishing the close game 86-85. Likewise, the men’s basketball team defeated Cumberland University in another neck-and-neck game, resulting in a 79-71 win.
During the men’s halftime, the Homecoming Court was presented and Mr. and Miss Union were announced. Steve Williams, senior business major, was crowned Mr. Union, and Abby Bone, senior nursing major, was crowned Miss Union.
The Buster Bowl, played on Nov. 5, gave the Homecoming week another sense of anticipation. Rather than dividing Union’s Buster Bowl participants into two teams, Freed-Hardeman University formed its own team and played Union on the Kirkland Field at Carlock Stadium at the University School of Jackson. Freed-Hardeman played well, scoring 36 over Union’s 26, but students were optimistic about the prospect of next year’s Buster Bowl.
Sophomore athletic training major, McKinley Korte said, “I think it was a lot more fun and exciting than just Union playing Union. I think it adds some more competition and a new aspect to the game.”
Likewise, sophomore cellular and molecular biology major, Christian Schlehuber agreed that the change was appreciated by students. “It used to be your friends against your other friends,” he said. “Now, you actually have a side you can 100% cheer for, knowing you don’t want the other side to win.”
This year more than ever, homecoming has played a valuable role in Union’s culture, inviting students to compete in events through organizations across campus. The homecoming directors are always looking to improve the festivities, and this year have implemented many new ideas into the main events.
Junior public relations major and homecoming director, Eva Grace Bedell had only encouraging things to say when asked about the brainstorming that goes into homecoming.
“Honestly, this year we came and had ideas and plans in mind for things we wanted to be different,” she said. “I was pulling up notes and documents where I had written last year ‘Things to Change for Bulldog Madness’ and ‘Things to change for Buster Bowl’. We added a lot of different elements of competition that encouraged participation and excitement at events.”
Bedell is correct in claiming that the competition for the Homecoming Cup was more intense this year. The events hosted by the class councils saw energetic crowds and were fun for all that attended. Freshman Council kicked the week off right with a great turnout, soon followed by the Sophomore Council’s pumpkin painting and hot chocolate social. The Junior Council’s window design competition brought a creative aspect to the week and was followed by a revamped edition of the Senior Council’s Bulldog Olympics.
In terms of sports during the week, Union enjoyed many events promoting the athletic programs. Bulldog Madness was held in the Fred Delay Gym Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. and was followed by Lady Bulldogs volleyball at 8 p.m.
Bedell was in charge of overseeing the entirety of Union’s Homecoming but noted that Bulldog Madness was a bit nostalgic for her.
“I loved planning bulldog madness. It was so fun. In high school I always did our pep assemblies and got to lead them so it was a little taste of that,” Bedell said.
As the main student-led activities organization, SAC hosted its annual Hullabaloo Nov. 4 at the AMP in downtown Jackson. Carver Commodore headlined the event as the main act with the opening act being Union’s very own Davis Smith. The event was an evening of high energy, including food and Jackson’s J-Town Coffee.
Senior history major and SAC president, Abbie Hobson, had high expectations for the SAC Homecoming event.
“Each year we have different chairs over the event and they all take creative liberty to make it a unique event each year,” Hobson said. “Hullabaloo is definitely one of our favorite events to host.”
Though Homecoming is packed full of fun events, the core idea is to further cultivate the sense of community around campus. It was evident that the week brought together the different areas of campus in a way that is unique to that week.
“Homecoming has so many facets, and so many offices work with homecoming. It’s not necessarily coming out of one spot,” Bedell said. “I’ve gotten to work with athletics a ton, I’ve gotten to work with the alumni office a ton, and then there’s a large amount of people I get to interact with across campus that I wouldn’t usually be able to, and it’s super exciting.”
Photo by Suzanne Rhodes
Well written Mattie! It’s easy to feel the excitement there through your work!