Student athletic organizations host bonfire for Homecoming

This weekend a large number of former Hoosiers will be making their way back to Bloomington. \nSome come to visit their children, others hope to run into old friends, brothers, sisters and professors. They come in search of IU's 2003 Homecoming festivities, and they all have one thing in common -- they will need something to do.\nThe Student Athlete Advisory Committee is hosting a bonfire at 7 p.m. Friday in Dunn Meadow to help.\nSince last year's bonfire was ruined by inclement weather, the SAAC has taken measures to attract parade spectators.\n"We're really hoping for a big turnout this year because the weather is supposed to be marvelous, and last year we got rained out," said SAAC President and senior Mike Minton. "That literally rained on our parade, which was inconvenient." \nThis year the SAAC will have live music from Jenn Christy's Paradox and the Beatniks, which consists of IU cross country runners and seniors Chris "Long John Silver" Powers and Jeff "Yee-ha" Zeha, and a one-name prodigy dubbed simply "Randall." There will also be free cider and popcorn. \nSAAC member and senior Nathan Purcell said he is looking forward to the entertainment at the event.\n"Jenn Christy headlines Jenn Christy's 'Paradox.' She's a former IU swimming standout, so she gels nicely with the Athlete Advisory Committee hosting an event," Purcell said. He said Christy has played with local rocker John Mellencamp.\nThe Student Athletic Board coordinated the bonfire with the SAAC, and it said it believes it will become a cornerstone of Homecoming.\n"We hope the bonfire can be the sort of tradition where students, faculty, coaches, athletes and members of the Bloomington community can come together to have a good time and show school spirit," SAB special events chair and senior Alicia Webb said.\nThe groups aim to emphasize community with the bonfire, which is why the SAAC and SAB invited the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington to attend. \n"SAAC is striving to get more involved with the Bloomington community, so we could think of no better way to do so than reaching out to the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington," Minton said. "We'd just like to extend an open invitation to everyone, and say thanks for all of the support that IU athletics receives from members of the IU and Bloomington communities. It's going to be a good time."\n-- Contact staff writer Rob DeWitte at rdewitte@indiana.edu.