Band hopes to take over future Homecoming events

The Penn Band wants to run future Homecoming festivities after a poor student turnout for this year's SPEC-sponsored events, Penn Band President Paul Luongo said this week. Penn Band members said that this October's parade and pep rally were unpublicized and disorganized and, if given the opportunity, their group could improve Homecoming activities in the future. Luongo said that this year only the cheerleaders, Penn Band, College Republicans, Phi Sigma Pi and the Irish Club participated in the parade, totalling about 35 students. "If our image is going to be associated with [Homecoming], we might as well do it right," said Luongo, a College senior. He said that the band is "consistent." "We have resources," said Luongo, especially citing the band's strong association with the Athletics Department. "[We are] a group of dedicated people interested in school spirit," Luongo said. "It doesn't seem like it's that difficult," he said. "A good parade, a good pep rally . . . I don't think we'd have a problem." Students who participated in the parade -- which consisted of two floats and two banners -- said there were no spectators on Locust Walk. And Penn Band members said that there were not even Social Planning and Events Committee organizers there to instruct the participants about where to go or what to do. "I don't know when [the parade] would have started if we hadn't started it," said Charles Maddow, Penn Band president-elect. "No one was there to tell us what they wanted or when to start." Luongo said that the band was contacted four days before the parade. But SPEC members said that Homecoming was a relative success. "Each year we learn where the strengths and weaknesses are," SPEC Chairperson Anne Todd said yesterday. She said that every Student Activities Council-recognized student group and every Greek organization was asked to participate in the parade, but that there was "slow to moderate response." "Except for the spirited few, support for the parade dwindles each year," said Todd, a College senior. She said that FallFest -- a Superblock fair featuring hot apple cider, cookies and fortune tellers -- was the most successful aspect of the Homecoming festivities and that might be expanded in the future. SPEC leaders said that it was more difficult than usual to gain support for Homecoming this year because it was the same weekend as Halloween. Jennifer Raymond, chairperson of the SPEC Homecoming Committee, said her committee worked very hard and got a positive response. "Although there weren't many people, the people who were there had a good time," said College sophomore Raymond, SPEC chairperson-elect. "Anything is worth a chance." She said last night that there will be a Homecoming Committee next year, regardless of the actions taken by the Penn Band. Todd said that she would encourage as many people as possible to participate in the planning of Homecoming. "My hope is that many different organizations will come together to plan next year's Homecoming," Todd said. "The program can only be strengthened with additional ideas, enthusiasm and support." And Carolyn Schlie-Femovich, senior associate director of athletics, also said that more groups may make more students involved with Homecoming. "You need a lot of organizations and a lot of people interested in making it work," Femovich said. "A band can create a lot of excitement."