Frozen fans rally to support Quakers

Students and alumni braved the cold for Homecoming festivities on College Green. Tearing up mock Yale Bulldogs, hundreds of Quaker faithfuls turned out on College Green Saturday to protest the Bulldog invasion, as part of the annual Homecoming celebration. Students, alumni and their families wandered around the Green enjoying face painting, a moon bounce, jousting, boxing, a wall climb and a bungee run. Organizers gave popcorn and cotton candy away free to passersby. The two-hour event saw six Bulldog pinatas shredded, as fans prepared for the Penn-Yale football game later in the day. "This is great," exclaimed Jordan Parnes, the five-year-old son of a 1978 University graduate, who took a swing at the first pinata. In the freezing cold, students got to take shots at Wharton senior Gil Beverly, a Undergraduate Assembly member who sat on the plank of a dunking booth. Vendors sold Homecoming T-shirts and bulldogs throughout the day, and students provided passer-bys with "Bulldog Blowout!" pins. "It was nice to see most of the school come together," said Wharton junior Andy Kline, president of the junior class and the fair's organizer. "It's not often that you see that." Quaker merchandisers sold out of almost everything they had and Kline deemed the festivities a success. The Penn Band showed up to help Quaker fans celebrate, striding down Locust Walk and playing for the crowd. And the Quaker mascot himself was present in full uniform to hand out pins to students and visitors. "This is an unbelievable improvement over last year," said the Quaker mascot, also known as Engineering senior Gary Byala. By the end of the fair, hundreds of students had their faces adorned with a red and blue "P" or a colored football. "It's a nice mix of the alumni and the present student body," said College freshman Jennifer Brown, who painted faces at the fair. "It really shows how much spirit is at Penn." One group of students from a management class conducted a raffle for carnival-goers, with proceeds to benefit the Children's Crisis Treatment Center. Prizes included several autographed sports items. Since the football game followed soon after the carnival, groups of students took positions along Locust Walk selling toast -- either regular or spray-painted red and blue -- to those walking towards Franklin Field. "I'm happy to see so many freshmen coming out to the carnival and supporting our first school event," said College freshman and Class President Michael Flicker, who sold toast with the other freshman class officers. "Homecoming weekend is one that brings us all together," said Wharton freshman Matthew Toll, who spent several hours on the Green Saturday. "The fair brings out the spirit of the Penn community." And with many alumni back on campus for the weekend, families also joined in the festivities. "We came to learn as well as to meet friends and watch the game. What really struck us was the friendliness? We hope our daughter, who is a sophomore in high school, comes here," said Steve Weiss, a 1961 Wharton graduate.