Greek Life is participating in several events this year to welcome back alumni, bringing back old traditions and celebrating its history for the UA’s 100th Homecoming.

Johanne Ives, assistant dean of students in the Fraternity & Sorority Programs, said one of the goals for Homecoming this year is to spread awareness about the date for the 2015 Homecoming, because it is the 100th anniversary for Greek Life on campus.

“It is going to be a really big celebration and reunion for the group community,” Ives said. “We want to have our greek [alumni] save the date to come back in 2015.”

Nicole Cousins, president of Chi Omega, said the main traditions in Chi Omega are reconnecting with alumni and learning about their experiences from past years in the sorority.

“We have over 100 alumni coming, so just to get to meet all of them and meet their families and kind of hear their stories is the most exciting thing,” Cousins said. “And then, of course, also seeing friends that have graduated up to four years ago.”

An old tradition, lawn decorating, will be brought back to Greek Life this year. Houses along greek row will have a competition determining who decorated their lawn the best.

Taylor Muzatko, the director for Greek Student Alumni Relations Council, said chapter houses will have different decorations put out in front of their houses on Friday morning.

“It is really just celebrating our history and then getting ready for the 100th anniversary of Greek Life at the U of A, which is happening next year during Homecoming,” Muzatko said.

Ives said that lawn decorating is a way for students in Greek Life to show school spirit to support Homecoming and to entertain alumni.

Cousins said Chi Omega is participating in the lawn decorating this year, and its theme is inspired by “The Wizard of Oz”; its official name is “No place like home.”

“We heard that we got to do lawn decorating this year, which is really exciting,” Cousins said. “Greek Life used to do it and they took it away, and now the university is reinstating it.”

Cousins added that it was the perfect time to bring the tradition back, and that she is really excited to see how it turns out.

Each sorority and fraternity chapter has its own plans for Homecoming week. Some chapters are decorating floats for the parade, holding events for alumni, giving house tours and setting up tents on the UA Mall.

“It is really up to each chapter on how they want to do their events,” Muzatko said.

Chi Omega, for example, is hosting house tours for returning alumni and setting up a tent on the Mall. Cousins said the Chi Omega sorority members are also going with the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity to Homecoming, and they are building a float for the parade.

All of the chapters are working to welcome alumni to join in on the 100th anniversary of Homecoming, and want it to be a huge celebration this year and next for Greek Life.

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