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Thursday, October 16, 2014

100 YEARS

100 YEARS OF HOMECOMING

This year’s annual celebration will mark a century of homecoming festivities. BY MOLLY MICHALETZ mmichaletz@mndaily.com

mages of Goldy Gopher, football game days and maroon and gold Gopheralls all embody school spirit at the University of Minnesota. Perhaps the most widespread display of Gophers pride takes place during the annual weeklong homecoming celebration. And this year’s homecoming marks a milestone, as the festivity turns a century old. Founded in 1914, homecoming at the University has provided the opportunity for students and alumni alike to show school spirit. This year’s 100th birthday celebration, under the theme, “Forever Gold,” encourages the campus community to reflect on the rich histor y of the past 10 decades of homecoming at the school. Homecoming at the University began by a group of students holding the event without the administration’s support, according to a 2001 Minnesota Daily article. A few years later, the University put the festivities on hold during World War I from 1917 to 1920, according to the article. Later wars also put some restraints on homecomings. In 1943, during World War II, the school canceled certain homecoming events, like the pep fest and parade, because of certain material shortages. And in the 1970s, the Vietnam War affected the University’s homecoming festivities. In 1971, no one celebrated homecoming besides four greek houses, according to the Student Unions and Activities website. The University also ceased to have a homecoming queen for the first five

Alumni Award recipients ride on pedicabs in the homecoming parade Oct. 12, 2012, on Washington Avenue.

years of the 1970s due to the feminist movement, the website says.

HOMECOMING LANDMARKS

During the homecoming of 1942, the University celebrated its pride in a big way by hosting the world’s

largest parade that ran two miles long and included 170 cars and floats, according to SUA. Today, homecoming fans still consider the parade a major event. While parades and bonfires were once the big homecoming events, now

big-name per formers create the biggest buzz around the annual celebration. The concerts began only a few years ago, but the University hasn’t failed to bring in well-known artists like Passion Pit and B.o.B. This year’s performer’s — rapper Iggy Azalea and

indie rock band Walk the Moon — cost the University $135,000 to book. While homecoming has evolved over the years, the University has kept some old traditions around. This year’s homecoming week includes a range of festivities and events,

BRIDGET BENNETT, DAILY FILE PHOTO

ranging from the parade to cheer and lip-sync competitions. And for the biggest event of the celebration, Gophers fans from across the state will come together on Oct. 18 as the football team plays Purdue University at TCF Bank Stadium.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

FOOTBALL

ROYALTY

2014 HOMECOMING ROYALTY

The 10 members of the homecoming court are heavily involved in campus activities. BY HALEY HANSEN hhansen@mndaily.com

T MARK VANCLEAVE, DAILY FILE PHOTO

The Gophers play Purdue on Oct. 27, 2012.

GOPHERS SHOULD FINALLY WIN HOMECOMING GAME Minnesota has lost its first three homecoming contests under Jerry Kill, but Purdue is the easiest test yet.

BY JACK SATZINGER jsatzinger@mndaily.com

n Jerry Kill’s first year as Minnesota’s head coach, throngs of students spent the Friday night of homecoming weekend watching Atmosphere play at TCF Bank Stadium. But just hours later, as the Gophers took on No. 13 Nebraska, all of the energy was sucked out of the venue. Students filed toward the exits at halftime after the Cornhuskers took a 34-0 lead. It was a rough homecoming game for the Gophers, who eventually lost 41-14 after Nebraska took out its star players. The next season, Friday

night’s B.o.B and Timeflies concert was arguably more electric — and so was Minnesota’s play on the field. The Gophers faced a strong of fensive unit in Northwestern, headed by dual-threat quar terback Kain Colter and speedy running back Venric Mark. While Colter passed for only 63 yards, he completed ever y pass he attempted and also rushed for 26 yards and one touchdown. Mark was more effective, averaging more than nine yards per carry and racking up 182 rushing yards. The Gophers flip-flopped at quarterback, giving both MarQueis Gray and Max Shortell ample time under center.

Neither was particularly effective, but Gray notched 86 rushing yards and one touchdown as Minnesota lost 21-13. Last season, the Gophers opened their season with a 4-0 record and higher expectations. Despite staying up late the night before, rocking out to Passion Pit and Hoodie Allen, the student section was practically full an hour before kickoff. With rival Iowa coming to town, the game appeared to be a great test for Minnesota after a cupcake nonconference schedule. And the Gophers received an “F” on their midseason midterm, getting outworked by the Hawkeyes in just about ever y

phase of the game en route to a 23-7 loss. After three years of mediocre headline bands and questionable homecoming football, this year should be different. The Gophers host Purdue, which won only a single game last season. And to top it all off, arguably the most popular performer in recent memor y will be performing at Friday night’s concert: Iggy Azalea. The Gophers should run off the field with a homecoming victory for the first time under Kill on Saturday. And if that’s the case, he might dance in the locker room after the game like he did last season, but this time it could be to Azalea’s “Fancy.”

his year’s group of homecoming royalty candidates is packed with student leaders, greek community members and avid Gophers sports fans. Though the 10 individuals come from different backgrounds and have a wide variety of interests, the one thing they all have in common is intense school spirit. The 2014 homecoming court is also active across all areas of campus. Here are quick bios of the busy court members: Genetics, cell biology and development senior Yazan Alkhatib — whom fellow students can find walking backwards on campus and leading tours as an Admissions Ambassador — said he decided to run for homecoming king in part because his friends encouraged him to and also to make his senior year memorable. “I thought I’d try to do as much as I can before I graduate and get as much as I can from the University of Minnesota,” he said. Sport management junior Barflaan Tedoe served as a community adviser his sophomore year and is a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, Minnesota Student Association and Gopher TV, according to the Student Unions and Activities website. Mathematics senior Ashley Hoffmann is president of Alpha Sigma Kappa — Women in Technical Studies, involved in Lutheran Campus Ministr y at Grace University Lutheran Church, and

participates in the Waterski and Wakeboard Club, the SUA website says. Economics, political science and Arabic senior Cody Clark serves as vice president of Sigma Chi fraternity and is chief of staff on the Interfraternity Council, according to SUA’s website. Merchandising and design senior Marni Surdy is a member of Delta Gamma and also works at the wellknown Annie’s Parlour in Dinkytown, the website says. Agricultural education junior Vinz Karl, a member of the FarmHouse Fraternity, is also involved in agriculturecentered student groups like the Agricultural Education Club, the Horticulture Club and the International Agriculture Club, the website says. While most candidates are heavily involved in University activities, finance senior Jimmy Quinn spent an entire semester studying abroad in London, according to SUA’s website. Genetics, cell biology, and development senior Ayo Gazal, who works as an event coordinator at the University’s sports stadium and arenas, said one of her favorite parts about homecoming is seeing past students return to campus. “Homecoming is also for the alumni,” she said, “not just for the students who are here.” Gazal said she’s enjoyed the time she’s spent with her fellow candidates so far. “Everyone on court is really awesome,” she said. A member of Alpha Phi sorority and an active leader u See ROYALT Y Page 11B

Thursday, October 16, 2014

DANCE

STEP IN TIME

Whether it’s step-dancing or lip-syncing, students pick their own beat to follow. BY JACKIE RENZETTI jrenzetti@mndaily.com

he Student Unions and Activities staff will host a step dancing competition and a lip sync competition simultaneously this year. SUA coordinators decided to combine the two contests this year in order to diversify the experience and to showcase the broad range of talent at the University of Minnesota. The plan is to alternate between a step group and a lip sync group. “I think it really diversifies the performance that’s going to be happening and hopefully will reach a broader audience as well,” said Casey Kuenn, a senior and engagement coordinator for SUA. The ter m “Lip Sync Competition” may render images of a brave soul pretending to belt their heart out, but this competition is more complex. Teams of about 12 members will perform an original dance number while mouthing the words to the tune of their choice. The lip sync competition will be judged based on complexity of choreography, accuracy of lip syncing and sportsmanship, among other criteria, Kuenn said. At least four step dancing teams and 14 lip sync teams are expected to participate. “With this year being the first year of step, we don’t have as many teams … [this time] is getting teams on board with the concept,” Kuenn said. “We do expect more lip sync teams than step teams.” This year, SUA par tnered with the Multicultural Greek Council to

Phi Beta Sigma members participate in a step show during homecoming week on Sept. 28, 2013, at Ted Mann Concert Hall.

coordinate the step dance competition. Kuenn said he thinks it’s because of this partnership that more teams signed up than when SUA attempted to put on the event last year. Teams have the option to enter as either a step or stroll per formance. Stepping usually involves foot stomping, hand clapping and spoken word as participants put on a percussive dance. Strolling is classified as more of a line dance that members do in time with

each other. “It’s ver y unified with the other people you’re doing it with,” said Nancy Mahdy, president of the Multicultural Greek Council. The teams will be judged and scored out of 250 possible points by three Greek alum judges. The scorecard includes criteria such as spirit, creativity, synchronicity and crowd reaction. “The scorecard is derived from what a lot of different step competitions do.

We kind of looked at several dif ferent ones in order to compile a pretty accurate scorecard for what is typically scored,” Kuenn said. Though lip syncing and step dancing are two different types of performances, the coordinators noted that the combination isn’t as zany when one considers the spirited atmosphere that the two have in common. “The step competition is also being scored on crowd reaction and spirit, and I think that is a big thing

that contributes to the atmosphere of the lip sync competition,” said Ashley Herink, student marketing coordinator for SUA. The SUA and Multicultural Greek Council coordinators are looking forward to seeing the event come to life. “The competitions just in general are really fun to watch. It’s really entertaining just to watch not only the teams come together, but also the students and the crowd,” Herink said.

JULIET FARMER, DAILY FILE PHOTO

“Ever yone gets so into it, and I’m excited to see a new aspect of the [lip sync] competition.”

STEP/STROLL AND LIP SYNC COMPETITIONS Where: Carlson Family Stage, Northrop Auditorium, 84 Church St. SE, Minneapolis When: 7 p.m. Thursday

Thursday, October 16, 2014

FANS

MARCHING

FROM CYMBALS TO SPIT VALVES

Members of the University of Minnesota Marching Band talk homecoming traditions. BY HALEY MADDEROM hmadderom@mndaily.com

T Minnesota fans cheer on the Gophers Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014 at TCF Bank Stadium.

AMANDA SNYDER, DAILY FILE PHOTO

FANS HOPING FOR FIRST KILL-ERA HOMECOMING WIN Students are growing impatient with losses.

BY DAVID NELSON dnelson@mndaily.com

ntering his fourth homecoming weekend as head coach of the Gophers football team, Jerr y Kill still remains winless on the day alumni arrive back on campus to support their team. While the alumni might be disappointed in the results year after year, students also want no more losses on homecoming weekend. “It blows we haven’t won since I’ve been here,” senior

season-ticket holder Scott Johnson said. “It just kind of brings down the weekend because you want to go out and celebrate a win rather than a loss.” Despite the student body’s outcry for a win, the opponents the Gophers faced off with on homecoming since Kill started haven’t exactly been “cupcakes.” Minnesota battled a No. 13 Nebraska team in 2011, a 5-1 Northwestern team in 2012 and an always-competitive Iowa team last season. “That Iowa game was just tough,” Johnson said. Whether it was the

quar terback controversy surrounding the game or the fact that Gophers fans watched as the Hawkeyes carried around the Floyd of Rosedale trophy, the 2013 homecoming game stuck out as a forgettable one from last year’s season. “I was at home that weekend,” sophomore fan Justin Donald said, shaking his head. “But watching the game on TV with the [family], let’s just say it got difficult at times.” However, fans seem optimistic about the Gophers’ battle with Purdue this time around.

“Pur due is nowher e near as talented as some of the other opponents on the schedule,” Johnson said. “I’d be shocked if we lose to them.” The Boilermakers have struggled recently, finishing last year 1-11. Kill and the Gophers should be able to put on quite the show against the lowly team from Indiana. “I think it will be a good game,” Donald said. “Based on the way we played against Michigan, I don’t see any reason why we won’t be able to take care of Purdue at home.”

o members of the University of Minnesota Marching Band, he’s “Young Deezy.” But to everyone else, he’s Robby Deziel, first-year mechanical engineering major and cymbalist in the drumline. Deziel said he’s already looking for ward to next year’s tr youts when he hopes to snatch a position playing the snare. “I was raised a Gopher basically, so just being in the band seems like a really big accomplishment,” he said. “You just wake up in the morning, it’s game day, and you’re like, ‘Let’s go.’ ” But Deziel admitted being in the band is no cakewalk. He has what he calls a “monster” calendar that keeps him sane balancing his four consecutive rehearsals each week with free blocks of time to memorize new songs and steps for every show. For homecoming week, most members will complete their homework a week in advance, he said. Rookies, said Deziel, are currently grinding over a routine to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” — but beyond that, he said they can only anticipate what Homecoming will bring. Tomas Icenogle — otherwise known as “Iceman” — leads the trumpet section and said he’s seen the band’s annual routine four years running. “As a coverall, a first-year marching band member during homecoming week will

learn a lot,” he said. “They’re going to learn about our band’s history — they’re going to learn about the University of Minnesota as a whole.” Icenogle said that firstyears will traverse campus, volunteering themselves to different senior band members who will assign them tasks like climbing up to the observatory at the top of the Tate Lab of Physics or talking to University President Eric Kaler. Icenogle said he even wrote to Dr. Date once. During homecoming week, first-years also decorate a paddle that senior members sign once tasks are performed. Icenogle said he once saw a paddle from 1945 that belonged to a female marching band player who marched during WWII, when all of the men were off to war. Women were not officially allowed to be full team members until 1972. The entire band will make its presence known throughout the week, playing rousers and fanfares, leading University tours where all community members are welcome, and they’ll even pull off a flash mob, Icenogle said. This year will be Icenogle’s last, and he will part from a group that he refers to often as family, though he also has blood connections to the band. When he was young, his brother and sister both played in the University of Minnesota Marching Band, and Icenogle said he hopes his involvement in the band continues that legacy.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

MUSIC

BACKSEAT BEAT

DJ Mad Mardigan shares moments from his career as an “electronic turntablist.” BY JARED HEMMING jhemming@mndaily.com

or Nicholas Dircz, attending college at Winona State University was less about the academics and more about investing in his future disc-jockeying career. “My second semester, I saved up enough money to buy a single, crappy turntable,” Dircz said. “So I’m like, ‘Screw it.’ This was preYouTube; I would buy a lot of VHS scratch battle performances. I watched them every day, literally; that’s all I did for a while in college.” Now Dircz — who scratches as DJ Mad Mardigan — is the official DJ for the Minnesota Timberwolves basketball team. He’ll be opening for Iggy Azalea and Walk the Moon at the University of Minnesota’s homecoming concert on Friday. Dircz likened his life at Winona — where he majored in mass communications and served as the editor-at-large for the campus newspaper — as a secret identity to his alter ego’s DJ ambitions. “I was very involved with campus politics, and then I would scratch at night,” Dircz said. “I didn’t really focus on classwork.” Since he began DJing, Dircz has remained committed to scratch, a method of DJing that uses real vinyl as hardware to manipulate the sound of digital files, reminiscent of old-school hip-hop. “I bought some records, plugged my turntable into my home stereo system and would play beats from a disc man and scratch along,” Dircz said. “It allows you to tab thousands of songs at your fingertips, and you can still manipulate them the way you would a real record. I can do looping, I can remix on the fly, I can add effect. It’s awesome.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

Minnesota Timberwolves official disc jockey DJ Mad Mardigan has been scratching at games since 2007. He will be opening for Iggy Azalea and Walk the Moon at the homecoming concert Friday.

This fusion of modern production integrated with retro hardware led to Dircz labeling himself as an “electronic turntablist.” For Dircz, the sound stems from scratching the itch to scratch. “I like electronic music, but I also like to scratch,” Dircz said of using real turntables. “I think it’s No. 1; I couldn’t imagine my life without scratching. It’s a huge part of my passion for my work. I created my own DJ company, and I only hire turntable DJs.”

Two years after graduating, Dircz decided to go professional, and he landed club residencies at the Imperial Room in downtown Minneapolis and Tiffany Sports Lounge in St. Paul before scoring his gig with the Timber wolves in 2007. Spinning at basketball games for pregame, halftime and postgame sets has helped Dircz refine his scratch-heavy sound, sampling from across a range of genres.

“It’s super dope,” Dircz said. “I play everything from new rap to classic rock to electro house to ’90s R&B. You have every demographic in [the Target Center]. I try to please everybody in a 12-minute set, which isn’t easy to do. But it’s been my style all along.” Dircz’s influences encompass the scope of classic and contemporar y vinyl-based DJs, including DJ Shadow, DJ AM and A-Trak. “You’ll notice Steve Aoki is not on that list,” Dircz said. “If

you don’t scratch, it’s hard for me to get into a DJ set. I love it that much.” He’s serious: In college, Dircz wrote a 12-page thesis to prove the turntable’s validity as an instrument, even devising “a scratch notation system that’s similar to what you see in percussion,” Dircz said. To demonstrate his point, the DJ presented the thesis with a jazz ensemble, collaborating and integrating his turntables into the threepiece improvisation.

“We made three songs from scratch,” Dircz said. “Pun intended.”

DJ MAD MARDIGAN Performing with Iggy Azalea and Walk the Moon Where: TCF Bank Stadium, 420 Southeast 23rd Ave., Minneapolis When: 8 p.m. Friday Cost: Sold out

Thursday, October 16, 2014

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Thursday, October 16, 2014

Royalty

MUSIC

GETTING ‘FANCY’ WITH GOPHER FOOTBALL

Players love Iggy Azalea just as much as everyone else. BY GRANT DONALD gdonald@mndaily.com

hile Gophers football players may be rocking TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday, some may be wishing they were able to witness Iggy Azalea rock the Bank the night before. “I don’t know if I can get hooked up with a pass or something to be

up there with her,” senior running back David Cobb said. Even though that won’t be a possibility for the Gophers r unning back, the fact that he wishes he could attend the concer t bodes well for the rapping sensation. After being described by Gophers football players as “a nice entertainer” and “a good rapper,” it’s clear that Azalea may have a small following on the team.

Cobb said Azalea has quite the following around the campus as well. Many Gophers football players named Azalea’s top song, “Fancy,” of f her debut studio album as their favorite of her jams. H ow ev er, n o ma t t er how fond the Gophers are of Azalea, the real task at hand is playing Purdue the next day for the team’s homecoming game. It’s a ver y impor tant game for the Gophers to

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win in order to continue their rise in the Big Ten. Purdue has str uggled against power five conference teams lately and finished last year with a 1-11 record — the worst in the Big Ten. The Gophers defense should be equipped to handle Pur due, as the Boilermakers ranked last in the Big Ten in total yards per game last year. Redshir t junior corner-

back Briean Boddy-Calhoun has played a significant part in the success of Minnesota’s defense this season. Boddy-Calhoun is another Gophers player who said he wishes he could attend the concert. “I’m so fancy, that’s the hit right now. She is a good rapper; I’m really in to hip hop music,” BoddyCalhoun said. “I wish I could attend, but I have business to attend to.”

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in student gover nment, finance senior Fiona Cummings said she also enjoys singing with her sisters. Cummings said her friends persuaded her to run for queen. “I wasn’t planning on running,” she said. Nursing senior Mar y Zahurones is involved in Gopher Dairy Club and Beta of Clovia sorority. She said she values school spirit and has enjoyed the volunteer events in which the royalty candidates have been able to participate. Outside of school, Zahurones said she loves going to concerts and searching for new and interesting places to dine in the Twin Cities. *Barlaan Tedoe, Ashley Hoffmann, Cody Clark, Marni Surdy, Vinz Karl, Jimmy Quinn could not be reached for interviews.

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Thursday, October 16, 2014

HISTORY

THE MAKING OF ‘FOREVER GOLD’

About 600 students voted for this year’s theme. BY JESSIE BEKKER jbekker@mndaily.com

he name for this year’s homecoming was almost “Maroon Mile-

stone.” Although students often have the chance to propose and vote on homecoming titles, this year played out a little differently. The long process of choosing a final name for homecoming each year involves collaboration between Student Unions and Activities full-time and student staff, said journalism senior Karlee Szeliga, the marketing coordinator on the homecoming Program Board. Heading into homecoming’s 100-year anniversar y at the University of Minnesota this year, SUA took the lead on creating the theme,

dubbing it “Forever Gold” after that name won the student body’s votes. In light of the anniversar y, the Program Board wanted to control the name more than in past years, said Nathan Waldvogel, an SUA marketing manager. The board chose five initial theme options that were then presented to the student body for voting on social media, he said. Nor mally, SUA asks students for theme ideas via social media, immediately following Spring Jam, he said. Then, SUA staf f members narrow down the proposals and pick three to five options on which the student body votes. Homecoming names are chosen on the basis of six main criteria, said Erik Dussault, assistant director for student activities. For example, the names

HOMECOMING NAMES THROUGH THE YEARS

’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14

MARCHING INTO THE FUTURE THE ULTIMATE HOMECOMING PAINT THE TOWN GOLD ALL THAT GLITTERS IS GOLD LEGENDARY U SKI-U-MADNESS FOREVER GOLD SOURCE: STUDENT UNIONS AND ACTIVITES

should be easy to understand, he said. They should also appeal widely to the University community and convey school spirit. This year, “For ever Gold” won a total of about 600 votes, Waldvogel said, coming in at the top of the list. The r unner-up names

this year were “Maroon Milestone” and “The Golden Era,” he said. Dussault said he feels staff and students worked together well this year to create a theme that would resonate with a diverse community. “We’re all par t of the conversation,” he said.

PARADES

2014 HOMECOMING PARADE TO HONOR TRADITIONS The hourlong event is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Oct. 17.

BY PARKER LEMKE plemke@mndaily.com

rowds will cram the banks of University Avenue Friday night to show their maroon and gold spirit during the University of Minnesota’s annual homecoming parade. A procession of about 80 entrants, including a marching band, color guard and homecoming royalty, will stride down the well-trodden track between 15th Avenue Southeast and Walnut Street — continuing a campus homecoming tradition that dates back almost a century. Nathan Waldvogel, a marketing manager for Student Unions and Activities, said photographic evidence dates the homecoming parade back to at least 1919. “Really, it’s all [about coming] together to have

this parade to celebrate the University of Minnesota,” Waldvogel said. Each year, the homecoming parade typically draws between 15,000 and 20,000 students, faculty, staff, alumni and local neighborhood residents to the same stretch of University Avenue, Assistant Director for Student Unions and Activities Erik Dussault said. “The only time we changed the route in recent years was due to the I-35W bridge collapse,” Dussault said. “We had to stage all of the parade entries closer into campus.” A total of 37 student groups and 20 University academic units and depar tments will take par t in this year’s procession, which will feature seven floats from groups like the University Recreation and Wellness Center, the Minnesota Student Association and the Ski and

HOMECOMING PARADE ROUTE Parade entry registration FO

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OU TH START EAST

PARADE ROUTE FAMILY VIEWING AREA

TCF Bank Stadium FINISH

SOURCE: STUDENT UNIONS AND ACTIVITES

Snowboard Club, organizers said. Children peering from the family viewing area will be able to enjoy hot chocolate, balloon animals, face painting and a super-sized version of the Jenga block-stacking game, said Tim Zhang, the parade’s student logistics coordinator. Each year, the University of Minnesota Alumni Association selects a grand

marshal for the parade, Dussault said, adding that the spot is usually used to recognize a prominent alumnus. This year the honor went to the family of John Mooty and Jane Glaser Mooty — including their children and grandchildren. The clan has collectively earned 35 degrees from the University of Minnesota over the span of four generations.

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Thursday, October 16, 2014