Preparation
for Homecoming house decorations
Holly Bellis, posted Oct. 20, 2006
Tissue paper, a flour and water mixture and markers have become
all too common for members of greek life at MU. As homecoming
has finally arrived, fraternities and sororities are anxious
to put the finishing touches on their house decorations and
floats.
A common technique, pomping, is used in making house decorations.
Pomping consists of taking a piece of colored tissue paper,
rolling it around a marker or pencil, dipping it in the flour
and water mixture known as “pomp juice,” and sticking
it on a piece of plywood. The plywood boards are pieced together
the week of homecoming to make a large portrait. To be competitive,
Greeks are encouraged to be creative, so portraits display
a variety of colors and some are even 3-D.
The weekend before homecoming, Oct. 14 through Oct. 16, is
known as marathon weekend. Marathon weekend is the last bit
of time to put finishing touches on projects, such as house
decorations, floats and skits, before they are judged and
a winner is announced. Amber McGilvray, a new member of the
Alpha Delta Pi sorority, said, “A lot of time and hard
work is put in by the partnered sororities and fraternities
during marathon weekend. It turns out being a lot of fun.”
Bart Young, a pledge member of Alpha Gamma Sigma, agrees with
McGilvray about enjoying marathon weekend. Young said, “It
was a long weekend but it was fun because you get to work
with a lot of people and see all of your hard work pay off
after everything has been accomplished.”
Joe Tvrdy, a freshman member of Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity,
said, “Marathon weekend was the worst 72 hours I have
spent on campus since I came to MU. It was pretty hardcore
and you really got to see the worst side of people. I think
someday I’ll look back on these times and laugh.”
All house decorations from the various sororities and fraternities
can be viewed on their front lawns Oct. 20 and Oct. 21, before
the homecoming game. Winners will be announced Sunday, Oct.
22, at midnight.
