Strength in Stripes: Mizzou Homecoming

My friends Maggie and David tailgating outside the stadium!

Homecoming. It's a tradition almost every high school student knows. But the origin? How many of you readers know how it started? 

For those of you who don't know, it started right here at Mizzou! In 1911 Athletic Director Chester Brewer invited past alumni to "come home" for the annual Mizzou v. Kansas game. That game is a BIG DEAL. The arch rivalry between the two schools has been present for more than a century, so that really set the tone for how big homecoming would become here at MU. While we don't play University of Kansas for homecoming each year, we still go big for the game!

Homecoming at Mizzou is characterized by several main events. First is the World's Biggest Blood Drive (recognized by the Guiness Book of World Records)! Each year MU holds the blood drive in the Hearnes center, where they collected 4,262 units of blood. This is part of homecoming competition, so each participating Greek house (fraternities and sororities) give blood. Don't be surprised if you have people asking for your blood when you get here, they'll want you to donate for their house! The blood drive is the week before homecoming week, but there are deferral days the next week.

During the actual week of homecoming Residential Life has their own competition. This includes painting banners to be hung from their common areas, a BBQ, and the parade. I worked on the Rollins (Gillett and Hudson) banner - which had a Kung Fu Panda theme. This was part of the larger theme of Blockbuster hits in the last decade. The BBQs were also a lot of fun. I went BBQ hopping, and each one had something different to offer. RGC's had live music, Pershing Commons had a giant blow up slide, and Bingham's featured everything from a Cupcake Walk, Pie a P.A., and face painting! Oh yeah, and there was tons of free food to go around!

The banner I made for RGC! The amount of glitter was atrocious! 

Even before all the homecoming festivities begin, Greek life is preparing! For the House Decs, which all of Columbia comes out to see, the sororities and fraternities pair up together to create elaborate backdrops.

Madagascar

These are pomped, which is tissue paper art. Hours upon hours are spent constructing these! During house decs each pair put on their own themed skit! Here are some of the pictures from this years house decorations. 

Cars

Then the morning of the game is the parade! Prefaced by a free pancake breakfast, the parade starts the day of homecoming off right! It's perfectly acceptable to roll out of bed and head out there too. 

Marching Mizzou, all the Greek and Residential life floats, and other community foundations participate. Be prepared to stock up on candy, because most of the 160+ parade entries have goodies to toss out! 

Mizzou homcoming is such big deal that we recruit some pretty impressive floats... if you can call it that... 

The Oscar Myer Weinermobile!

And finally - the game! It'll be sold out - that's a guarantee. Buy yours early just to make sure you get one! People are really spirited, so be prepared to arrive early, cheer loud, and stay late! We shut out Colorado with a whopping 58-0 score! Tailgating before is fun, but make sure you make it to the game on time so you can take it all in. This year they had Marching Mizzou Alumni come and play. It was really fun to see 40+ year old people coming back to MU! 

My roommate Mystle, Annica, Maggie, and I all face painted for the game.

Homecoming at Mizzou is an event you don't want to miss out on. Even if you're not a football fan, make sure you make it to the game. If only for the atmosphere and environment. Seeya next year! MIZ - ZOU! 

Dorm Days!

Rachel and I ready to dominate!

Think of all the fun you’re having right now during your final year(s) of high school. Got it? Now multiply it by ten, at least. That’s what college is like. While you spend a sizeable amount of time studying, there is ALWAYS something exciting going on.

Take today for instance. Usually Sundays are pretty quiet, reserved for homework, but today was jam-packed with thrill! At the Rec Center you can join or create basketball teams for competition. It’s a great way to hang out with your friends, release some competitive energy, and exercise. Well, today was the final game of G6 – the 6th floor of Gillett’s basketball team. Normally these games don’t really draw a crowd, but this one did.

More than 25 people showed up to support them! I’ll admit – my friend Rachel and I showed up Dressed to Impress! We were ready to hype up the game and get people excited!

Representing G6!

Full on body paint to match their team colors (pink and black), capes with the team ‘slogan’ on them (True Ballers Never Sleep), and matching accessories! We lead that cheering section with pride.

Silly is probably the best word to describe a typical day in the dorms. Once I got on the elevator only to be greeted by a handful of boys and a million balloons! Another time I was walking to the bathroom only to run into a hotdog!

Everyone brings their personality to college, which makes it so fun! This really shines through into the dorm rooms as well. I’ll tell you right now though that some stereotypes are true. Boys’ dorms kind of smell, and girls’ dorms tend to be very color coordinated.

P.A. Shane from the Sixth floor, Rachel and her fort, and Good 'Ole David Dishman (the hotdog)

When I give you this advice remember that this is a girls perspective. I’m just making sure to state my bias!

Bring LOTS of pictures. You might feel like they’re not necessary, but not only will you want them when you miss your family, but they are good conversation starters and decoration pieces!

This is my friend Lauren's room. Her and her roommate didn't even discuss what color scheme they were going for, and they matched so well! 

Also stock up on items like Shampoo and toothpaste. They’re expensive anywhere you go, and not something you want to run out of.

Other things: Food. Food. Food. Fill your shelves while your parents are around. An umbrella and RAIN BOOTS. This is Missouri and the weather unpredictable. And last but not least: body paint for dorm basketball games!

Mizzou Myths: Busted

Let’s face it: there are some pretty firm stereotypes about college that have developed over the years. I might have only been living here for two months, but I can already tell you a lot of my preconceived notions about college life were wrong.

Long-distance relationships don’t last in college:
MYTH! Not only is it possible to stay in a relationship at college, but also it’s commonplace. About 10 people on my floor started the year off with a significant other, including myself. So far, most of us have been able to manage it. While it’s difficult because college is such a huge transition, you can swing it!

Things to keep in mind:

• You have to be open to change. College is the time of your life where you finally get to reassess your identity and discover who you want to be. Adults are right when they say don’t limit yourself. Stay in the relationship if you are still open to growth.

• Communication is important. I have found services like Skype and AIM to be very useful. Also, increase your phone plan. You’ll be using a lot of minutes and texts and the overages aren’t worth it!

You don’t have to go to class to pass:
MYTH! I hate to break it to you, but this is a complete myth. Seldom do professors post notes, and you never want to rely on someone else’s. Even if they take a lot of notes, you can never guarantee the quality. Keep in mind that you have to be in class to know what points the professor is stressing.

Example: In my human development class I overheard some girls chatting on her cell phone. She was telling her friend how she finally made it to class and that she failed the last test. “I read the chapters in the book,” she said, but that just wasn’t enough.

You need to be present to understand the material and what the professor expects from you.

You have to drink to have a good time:

MYTH! Totally not true. I’ve had the most fun just hanging out in the dorm playing Apples to Apples or watching movies. No one cares if you chose not to drink and you shouldn’t feel obligated just to go with the flow.

If you want to have a good time and avoid situations that might pressure you attend Mizzou After Dark events! They do events ranging from Grocery Bag Bingo to Spa Nights to Bollywood Movie Nights! They’re free to students too.

You will gain the Mizzou-22
MYTH! That’s right, it’s not the Freshmen-Fifteen. Here at Mizzou there is all-you-can eat style dining. This has its pros and cons. You won’t ever be left hungry, but you risk over indulging. So long as you are contentious, you’ll avoid the extra poundage!

Tips to avoid the Mizzou-22:
• Limit your meal plan. I’ll tell you right now – 21 meals is excessive and you will not eat them. There is always free food on campus, so you don’t go to the dining hall for each meal. I have also found that I usually eat breakfast either in my room or on the go. I have the 14 meal plan and usually still have points left over.
• Avoid Rollins Pizza To-Go as a daily ritual. Rollins pizza is delicious and addicting, but don’t rely on it as your only dietary sustenance.
• Go to the Rec Center! Mizzou’s rec center was rated the best in the nation by Sports Illustrated! There are televisions in all the work out machines and if you like to lift weights hit up the Pump Room.

Athletes don’t hang out with the rest of us
MYTH! While you probably won’t see Chase Daniel in your freshmen biology class, athletes are just like the rest of us. They go to class and have a social life!

Yes! This is Sean Weatherspoon, who some claim to be the best linebacker in the nation! And That's me!!! He was in Gillett acting in a friend's iLife video!

I will tell you though; the athletes have a special dining hall. I can’t report on this because it’s a pretty exclusive place, so if you ever get the chance try to get in!