By Jessica Hartling
Campus Life Assistant Editor
February 11 -16 is a busy week on Viterbo’s campus. Every spring, Campus Activities and Student Activities Board (SAB) host Viterbo University homecoming week. The week is filled with activities for all students, from a week-long Bro Code hunt to the homecoming dance.
“Suit Up” Vic contest entries were due on Mon. Feb. 11. Students were able to design formal accessories for Vic the V-hawk. Voting for the best outfit will occur during the week on Wednesday and Thursday Feb. 13 and 14.
In the Bro Code hunt a clue posted through VU Today and the SAB Facebook page. Each day a new clue is released, and by the end of the week, the first person to turn in all five clues to Kari Reyburn, director of Campus Activities and Orientation, during the homecoming luncheon on Friday wins a $50 gift card to Buzzard Billy’s.
On Wednesday, Feb. 13 there are various locations and times to play Minute-to-Win-it challenges and voting for “Suit Up” Vic designs begins.
Thursday Feb. 14 there will be an Open Mic Night in the caf at 7 p.m.
A spirit luncheon on Friday, Feb. 15 will feature prizes, trivia, and food in the caf from 11a.m.1p.m.
Later Friday night there will be Ladies’ Night, which will have chocolate, spa treatments, and nail painting from 6-9 p.m.
For the men, there will be the Man Cave, a video game tournament for prizes. Both of these events will take place in the Nursing Building. After both of these events is VU After Dark Spirit Bingo at 9 p.m. in Nursing Center room 196.
The Homecoming tailgate, basketball games, dance and after party all occur on Saturday, Feb. 16.
The theme for homecoming week this year is “Suit Up.” This theme is inspired by How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM), a popular television show on CBS. Actor Neil Patrick Harris plays the iconic character Barney Stinson, who introduced the Bro Code to the series. The Bro Code is the written rules for all “bros” to follow.
A life-sized cut out of Barney has been traveling around campus as a form of an advertisement. Thus far, Barney has been to the union, the Academic Resource Center and Franny’s.
“I am definitely planning on going to Homecoming activities,” Katelyn Kraimer, junior psychology major with a servant leadership and substance abuse counseling minor from Milton, Wis. told Lumen. “As a member of SAB, I helped plan and organize the activities. I am hoping that with my school spirit I can get other students to join in on the fun too,” Kraimer said.
Eric Starr, freshman theatre major with an acting emphasis from Oconomowoc, Wis., is also planning on attending Homecoming events. “I believe that most students have school spirit; otherwise why else would they be here?” Starr told Lumen. “I do not feel that a lot of our school pride comes from sports, but rather through our ability to work together on campus and in our community.”
To show his Viterbo spirit and enthusiasm, Starr was wearing a button which advertised Homecoming week.
“I did not even realize homecoming was coming up,” Molly Shannon, senior philosophy and religious studies major from Guttenberg, Iowa, told Lumen. “I am not really planning on going to homecoming events; I did not in high school either.”
While not planning on attending the events, Shannon believes that “homecoming week does add school pride on campus.”
“I think that a great majority of students seem to have school spirit, but others could work on utilizing theirs. I feel that Homecoming is a great way for people to become enthusiastic about Viterbo,” Kraimer said.
“I hope that Homecoming Week gets people excited about going to Viterbo,” Kraimer said. “I really want to inspire people to go to these events and have school pride.
