Homecoming is changing.

In past years, there were few signs on campus that it was supposed… Homecoming is changing.

In past years, there were few signs on campus that it was supposed to be a special weekend. There were the masses of students handing out random things like candy, condoms and lighters, and people dressed up in strange costumes outside the Litchfield Towers – anything to get people to vote for their Homecoming King and Queen candidates.

For the most part, that was it.

This year, though, things are different.

Students are still giving out random things near the Towers to get last-minute votes for their Homecoming nominees, but with the Student Government Board’s help, this won’t be the only sign of Homecoming around campus.

SGB President Liz Culliton hopes to get everyone involved in the festivities and to “generate a certain spirit” on campus. One of the easiest ways students can show their Pitt pride is by dressing in blue and gold, she said.

According to Mike Kelly, who worked on promoting SGB’s Homecoming events, “Pitt’s always criticized for not having school spirit.”

Culliton added that, most of the time, students are separated into different groups, and that she hoped this would bring all students together. To help achieve that, the Board members have many events planned for today.

Activities are planned to kick off at noon with a banner competition in the Schenley Quad. As of Thursday, about 20 to 25 groups had signed up to create the three-by-five feet banners. According to Culliton, not only will this let students show off their school spirit, but it will also give students a creative outlet that they do not always get at Pitt.

She anticipates seeing “a massive sea of [people dressed in] blue and gold, who are hurrying to get the banners done” by 3:30 p.m.

After the banner making winds down, SGB will be handing out 2,500 pom-poms to students wearing blue and gold in the Quad.

Culliton and others involved with SGB will be judging the banners between 5:30 and 6 p.m. Though they will have a score sheet, it’s supposed to be fun, Culliton said. After the competition, the banners will be hung in the William Pitt Union.

After that, SGB will host the Panther Cheer Station. Cheerleaders will be in the Quad, teaching interested students new and old Pitt cheers. According to Culliton, the Panther may also make an appearance.

SGB will also host a “Who has the most school spirit?” contest at 8 p.m.

“Get crazy,” Culliton said. “It’ll be fun.”

Though she doesn’t know what to expect, she hopes people get into the event by doing things like painting themselves in school colors.

At about 8:15 p.m., the Pitt Pep Band will perform and march to Bigelow Boulevard, where the day’s winners will be announced. The day’s festivities will culminate with the Pitt Program Council’s annual fireworks show at the Cathedral of Learning.

Through the day’s events, SGB wants to rekindle some of the school spirit that existed on campus in the past, Culliton said. Years ago, Homecoming included a parade and other festivities, she said. By starting something this year, she hopes to create a base for Pitt to start new traditions in upcoming years.

“Hopefully, we can rekindle the pride,” she said.