By: ALICIA FLORES
Staff Writer
aaflores@umail.iu.edu
IU South Bend’s Spirit Week 2015 activities will be in full effect Oct. 4-8.
Each day’s events will present opportunities for student clubs to earn points toward the Spirit Cup. At least one person from each participating club needs to be present to receive points. Although only clubs can earn points, the rest of the campus is encouraged to come out and enjoy the festivities.
“It is a great way to take pride in being a Titan and celebrate the campus,” said Scott Strittmatter, director of student life.
This year’s Spirit Week will begin with Family Day from 1 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4 in the student housing area. Activities will include games, bubble soccer and a cookout. Strittmatter encourages attendees of the cookout to RSVP. Further RSVP instructions will soon be available.
On Monday, Oct. 5, activities will include banner making and the Wish with the Chancellor ceremony. Banner making will take place from 12 to 4 p.m. in the Student Activities Center. Clubs, organizations and departments will have the opportunity to make banners for display while tallying points toward the cup. Wish with the Chancellor will take place on the footbridge around dusk. During the annual event, students and faculty typically gather to make a wish for the school year, sending Chinese lanterns off into the sky.
A volleyball game pitting faculty and staff against students will occur at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6 in the SAC, followed by the varsity volleyball game at 7 p.m.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 7, a lip-sync contest will take place in the Grille. The battle between departments, clubs, organizations and student housing will test the lip-syncing skills of those taking the stage. Participants must submit a song by Oct. 5 to Strittmatter at sstrittm@iusb.edu.
At 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 8, students and staff will strip down outside the SAC for the fifth annual Nearly Naked Mile. The first 100 participants to register will recieve a Titan Fandana. Shannon Porowski, the Spirit Week committee’s head chair, said early registration is encouraged but participants will also be able to register on the day of the event.
“It is a really fun way to give back and get people involved,” Porowski said.
There is no fee, however, those choosing to run or walk the mile-long route around campus are encouraged to bring clothes to be donated to local organizations. Prizes will be awarded to a first-place male, first-place female and best costume.
“The idea is you are taking the clothes off your back to donate. You can wear a costume, a swimsuit or minimum attire,” Porowski said.
Following the Nearly Naked Mile will be a tailgate where participants can eat and view the final results of this year’s Spirit Cup. To preregister for the Nearly Naked Mile, email Porowski at sporowsk@iusb.edu.
Spirit Week winds down with the Red and White Dance, scheduled from 9 p.m. to midnight on Thursday, Oct. 8 in the Grille. Time and locations are subject to change.
