To many freshmen and new students at the University, the word “homecoming” triggers memories of formal wear, pep rallies and spirit week — traditions they might have assumed would be left behind in high school. But the homecoming tradition carries on at the University.

While the festivities are slightly different, the concept of homecoming is the same.

“Homecoming week here at the University is meant to bring students, alumni, faculty and the community together to celebrate and appreciate our school,” said Tim Rees, member of the Student Alumni Association and former Illini Media employee.

The SAA leads many of the major events of homecoming week, such as organizing a block party, decorating the Quad and pulling in businesses on Green Street to participate in window painting.

Homecoming week also brings back many alumni to campus.

“We try to bridge that gap between former students and current students and invite many of our valued alumni back to campus,” said Rees, junior in Media.

The University has one of the longest-running homecoming traditions, according to the Illinois Homecoming website. In the most recent decades, the University of Illinois Alumni Association put a lot of effort into making homecoming week a larger deal by bringing back alumni to campus, and the SAA has helped them maintain this celebratory week, Rees said.

“It was brought back this early decade to renew campus athletic support, but it goes on beyond athletics,” Rees said. “We try and pair with registered student organizations, sororities, fraternities and any type of organization to get campus unity going as much as possible during this week.”

All the events of homecoming week are meant to be a fun way to promote campus unity and pride in the University.

Rees said that some of events that students should look out for are the football game, homecoming parade and iHelp, his personal favorite.

“(For iHelp,) you set out with the U of I name behind you and help the community by doing things as small as picking up trash to visiting nursing homes,” Rees said. “It’s a great way to take pride in our school while giving back to the community.”

Homecoming events officially started Friday with the iHelp volunteer project. Various events will occur after that through out the week until Sunday, when the week officially ends.

“I was a little surprised that colleges had homecoming, but not too much,” said Aminah Darabu, freshman in LAS. “Homecoming is all about school spirit and Illinois has tons of that.”

For Darabu’s first homecoming at the University, she is most looking forward to the football game and is excited about the events that showcase school spirit.

The official “Wear Orange Wednesday” will take place this week. SAA is trying to get as many people as possible to wear an orange T-shirt.

“My high school had a lot of spirit around this time of week, so I’m excited that U of I does, too,” Darabu said. “I’m looking forward to repping my school as hard as I can for that one week.”

Kelsey Johnson, junior in Engineering, advises new students to go out to whatever homecoming events are brought to students’ attention because they are always serving free food. She also said the one event students should attend is the homecoming football game.

“New students should definitely go to the football game because it will probably have the most school spirit and excitement out of all of the other games for the year,” Johnson said.

Rees, Darabu and Johnson all said the small subtle things done to show support and involvement during the week is what makes homecoming week fun.

“It’s all about taking pride in our school,” Rees said.

Saher can be reached at [email protected].