OU greek life is adding the final touches to homecoming projects and performances leading into OU’s game against the University of Mississippi on Saturday.
This year marks OU’s 110th homecoming. The theme, “RAH!KLAHOMA,” will be celebrated with chalk art displays on the South Oval, a banner-making competition, a pep rally and float-making for the annual homecoming parade Friday night.
OU greek life, per tradition, is participating in several events this year hosted by Campus Activities Council. However, the most anticipated event each year is creating the floats for the homecoming parade.
Greek life organizations use a technique called pomping to create each float. Pomping is the process of cutting and folding miniature squares of tissue paper to be placed between the openings on a sheet of chicken wire, held together by paint and glue.
Each year, greek life houses work together in groups to participate in the parade float-making competition.
Gamma Phi Beta and Pi Kappa Alpha
Kami Pratt, health and exercise science sophomore and head homecoming director for Gamma Phi Beta, discussed the sorority’s plans for homecoming week participation.
“We are trying to participate in every single event,” Pratt said. “We have a float being put together, a board for the Soval, chalk designs for the Soval banners for the banner competition and (we are) participating in Rah! Rally.”
Rah! Rally, held this year at McCasland Field House, is a pep rally the night before the homecoming game with performances from the Pride of Oklahoma, OU Spirit, OU athletics and other student groups.
“Rah!,” a traditional saying at OU, symbolizes the school’s camaraderie and team spirit, Pratt said.
“It’s the same type of feel as cheering on the university, cheering on our athletics, education, everything that goes on here,” Pratt said. “They’re kind of incorporating a tradition with a theme for homecoming.”
This year, Gamma Phi Beta is paired with the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
Each house pairing was asked to create three subthemes of the overall theme, “RAH!KLAHOMA.”
Pratt said planning for Gamma Phi Beta and Pi Kappa Alpha began in the last few weeks of September. Most homecoming activities are optional, but float-making is required for Gamma Phi Beta’s members.
“That is something that, throughout the years past, hasn't been everyone’s favorite thing, but my goal this year was just to kind of make it a more fun and inclusive event for everyone, especially since it is a required event,” Pratt said. “We definitely stepped it up with music, snacks and announcements.”
Alpha Gamma Delta, Phi Kappa Psi and Sigma Phi Epsilon
Dominique Cootes, health care business and management senior and homecoming director for Alpha Gamma Delta, has served on CAC’s homecoming board for the past three years. This is her first year on her house’s homecoming committee.
Alpha Gamma Delta is paired with the Phi Kappa Psi and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternities for this year’s float-making. According to Cootes, the three houses received their theme earlier in the spring.
Cootes said float-making helps new and returning members get to know each other.
“We wanted to stick with a lot of pomping and go back to the origins of homecoming because a lot of our girls really like pomping,” Cootes said. “We use that time to help our new members get to know our actives.”
Cootes said pomping is done in shifts Monday through Thursday to accommodate every member’s schedule.
“Getting people to pomp can be difficult, but we also kind of sell it by (saying), ‘We all get to work together and be one little strong sisterhood and all get to know each other,’” Cootes said.
Kappa Alpha Order, Alpha Phi and Delta Tau Delta
Ben Ward, civil engineering junior and head homecoming director for the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity, shared that their design process began roughly four weeks ago, with work on the float beginning three weeks ago.
Kappa Alpha Order is paired with the Alpha Phi and the Delta Tau Delta fraternity for float-making.
“Everyone contributes in their own way,” Ward said. “We all try to divvy up the work.”
Keeping morale and motivation high has been a struggle in the past, particularly with the time-consuming pomping, but Ward said he is hopeful this year will be more exciting for members.
“Everybody is excited about homecoming and getting to walk in the parade and seeing everybody’s design,” Ward said. “That’s always really fun.”
This story was edited by Natalie Armour, Ana Barboza and Thomas Pablo. Kennedy Johnson, Gretchen Schultz and Sophie Hemker copy edited this story.
