As the new school year reaches full swing, Stony Brook University’s annual Homecoming traditions have begun. Wolfstock ’09 began Wednesday afternoon at the Homecoming Kick-Off Rally. Swarms of students crowded outside the Student Activities Center where all the festivities took place.
Music blared through the speakers as students took advantage of all the activities the event offered. Among the more popular ones were the basketball stand and carnival games. An inflatable obstacle course was nearly empty for most of the event.
The biggest draws were the stands where students walked away with a souvenir to take home with them. Dozens of students lined up for caricatures. Many also waited patiently on a long line to pick up a spray-painted t-shirt.
‘Things like this are great, it’s something special for the school to do for students,’ said Stony Brook senior Krutika Gupta. ‘There aren’t many events at this school that everyone comes to.’
Despite the large crowd, school spirit seemed lacking. As announcers at the event asked students to make noise and to represent their class, not many answered. The DJ turned the music up in response to the silence.
The marching band, cheerleaders, and dance team kept it going. They marched up the Zebra Path to the center of the festivities, injecting life into the affair. The school mascot, Wolfie, attempted to energize the crowd as well.
The sorority Sigma Iota Alpha and the fraternity Kappa Alpha Psi were responsible for putting together the event. ‘We’ve been organizing this since August,’ Alina Onefater, the secretary of Sigma Iota Alpha, said.
The Students Activities Board paid for the event, Olfater said. ‘I think the outcome is successful,’ she said.
The blow out is supposed to promote the upcoming events for the rest of the weekend. Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. students can go to the SAC and vote for their choice for Homecoming King and Queen.
In a change for the festivities in 2009, homecoming floats designed by students will be shown before the football game on October 3 at 12 p.m. in the redesigned Wolfstock Village.
The opening football game, at 3 p.m., has the Stony Brook Seawolves against the Presbyterian Blue Hose from South Carolina. The Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned during half-time.
