campaigns : Campaign Archive

Click above for more Homecoming Information!

Volume 4, Issue 9

Red, White and Blue Raider Homecoming Salute

Sarah Russell

The months of October and November have been filled with preparation leading up to this week’s Homecoming celebrations. Beginning with the Fight Song competition in October, MTSU Greeks have been working hard to show the pride they hold for MTSU as well as for their organizations. This year’s theme, “A Red, White and Blue Raider Salute” leads students and alumni to focus their attention not only on the university, but also on the men and women of the armed forces.

Homecoming week began with 25 cent refill cups in the KUC on Monday and T-Shirt Swap Day on Tuesday. For swap day, students were encouraged to trade a shirt from another university for an MTSU Homecoming shirt. Wednesday will include a Horseshoe competition in which students will compete in teams of two representing their organizations. The return of the Chili Cook-Off on Friday is sure to bring many hungry students out to the Murphy Center Forest at 5:30 p.m. Once they are full of prize-winning chili, students will have the opportunity to see one of the highlights of the Homecoming season—the NPHC Step Show. Step Show will begin in the Murphy Center at 7:30 and tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door.

For the past two weeks, the Greek community has been working into the early hours of the morning preparing their floats for the Homecoming parade at 10 a.m. on Saturday. After circling through the neighborhoods surrounding the MTSU campus, the parade will lead everyone to the tailgating competition in Walnut Grove. At 2:30, students, alumni, and fans will crowd Floyd Stadium to watch the Blue Raiders face off against Louisiana Lafayette. Homecoming 2007 is sure to be an exciting event that not only celebrates MTSU Blue Raider pride, but also shows appreciation for our veterans.

Road Rally to New Orleans

John Carter

Nearly 300 MTSU students, many of them Greek, made the journey to Louisiana over the weekend to support Blue Raider football and to do a little sight seeing in New Orleans. Students met at the gravel parking lot on Greenland Drive before sunrise on Friday morning and loaded up onto five charter buses bound for Cajun country. Though the ride was long, The Big Easy did not disappoint as almost every member of the crowd on and around Bourbon Street was in celebration mode.

The trip offered many students the opportunity of a lifetime, including one of the most memorable MTSU football games in recent memory. The Blue Raiders saw their lead slip away as Louisiana-Monroe scored a touchdown with just under a minute to go. Distress immediately turned into elation, however, as MT’s Bradley Robinson took the ensuing kickoff 89 yards to touchdown territory. Blue Raider fans from the stadium to the tailgating area and parking lot were completely ecstatic. It was a thrilling conclusion to an already amazing trip.

Make a Difference in Greek Life

Whitney Carr

It’s that time of year when officers step down and let new leaders take their place. In the next few weeks, IFC and NPC will be accepting nominations and electing new officers for leadership in 2008. There are so many different positions out there that everyone can make a difference in their concerning council. No matter what your major is, or what you like to do, your talents can be expressed through an officer position within your respective council.

There are requirements, however: you must be a hard-working, ethical person who has a vision for Greek Life that can be reached through determination and working together. Being a part of one of these councils also expands your horizons and changes the images you may have of other organizations. Through being an officer, you may realize that we aren’t really that different from each other.

If you are interested in becoming an officer within the Inter Fraternity Council or National Panhellenic Council, contact your organization’s IFC or NPC delegate today. Don’t wait until the last minute! Nominations are currently being accepted, so make sure to speak up if you want to make a difference in Greek Life!

Hypnotist Randy G. Emily

Men’s Speakout was a Hypnotic Event

Chris Smith

Last Thursday was…hypnotic, to say the least. The first ever Men’s Speakout, sponsored by the IFC and NPHC fraternities, brought together over 325 fraternity men to the James Union Building Tennessee Room for a night full of entertainment.

The hypnotist Randy G. Emily has been practicing his art since 1976. He also worked in the counseling areas of education and social work. His performance catered to the daily lives of our fraternity men.

“We wanted a speaker who would cover a new topic because fraternity men deal with real issues in their lives, not only the highly-publicized topics of sex and alcohol consumption,” stated Nathan Haynes, IFC Vice President of Recruitment and brother of ΣAΕ.

With strange music playing in the background and a flashing light on stage, Randy invited over 30 men on stage as he began the induction stage of his hypnosis. The total number of volunteers dwindled to just over 10, and Randy commanded the stage for the next hour-and-a-half. At one point, everyone on stage was a different character, ranging from the Crocodile Hunter to Conan the Barbarian and the Hulk. After the conclusion of the hypnotism, the audience was invited to join Randy and be walked through a self-hypnosis process that allows one’s mind to focus and one’s body to relax.

“The power of a positive thought is enough to make the difference in your life. Think each night about something good you want to change, and you will make that change occur.” These were Randy’s final words, believe in yourself and you can change anything.

“This completely changed my opinion on hypnosis. I have been made a believer. Anytime I come to, while thinking I had only been out for about five minutes, and find out it was almost two hours is amazing,” said Danial Gammon, IFC Vice President of Judicial Affairs and brother of ΣAΕ.

IFC Treasurer and brother of ΠKA Matt Lewers commented that the performance was, “astounding, hysterically funny, and kept everyone, even the audience, mesmerized on the edge of their seats.”

DVDs of the performance are available and cost $20 plus $5 shipping and handling. If you are interested, contact Chris Smith at cds3b@mtsu.edu. You can also visit Randy’s website at www.hypnosisbyrandy.com.

Up ‘til Dawn Wants You!

Josh McKenzie

Have you heard of Up 'til Dawn? It is MTSU’s largest fundraiser, benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital located in Memphis, TN. St. Jude is a research and treatment center for pediatric cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Over the past eight years, MTSU alone has raised over $450,000 for the hospital, and we are looking to raise that amount even higher this year.

In the past, the Greek community has helped tremendously in raising a magnitude of funds for the hospital and the deadline for team registration is drawing near. November 9^th, this Friday, is the final day to submit team registration packets. A team consists of six members raising at least $600, only $100 per person! Each team has a variety of ways to raise money, including letter writing or personal fundraisers. Last year, the Pink Raider Knitting Brigade won the honor of Most Money Raised, simply by selling knitted scarves and sweaters.

Don’t forget to register your team by this Friday, with a $50 registration fee! Also remember the Great Lick-a-Thon will be held Monday, November 12^th from 6:00-8:30 in the JUB. This event will include free food, entertainment, iPod Touch giveaways, and much more. You will also have the chance to bring you and your team’s fifty names and addresses to send out pre-written letters asking for donations. Your attendance at this event will go toward spirit points, an award handed out at the Up ‘til Dawn Finale event on Friday, February 1, 2008. For any questions, email Up ‘til Dawn at uptldawn@mtsu.edu or www.mtsu.edu/~uptldawn.

Click above for more information about Up 'til Dawn