Friday, November 1, 1996
HOMECOMING:
This year's festivities include first Bruinfest CarnivalBy Tiffany Lauter
Daily Bruin Contributor
It was in 1927 that UCLA participated in its first homecoming game. The night ended with two wins one for the football team (8-0) and one for Madeleine Breyton , the young lady who won the highly sought-after title of UCLA Homecoming Queen.
This weekend, UCLA will kick off its 69th annual Homecoming with the announcement of this year's king and queen.
Although there were fewer applicants this year, the contest remains an integral part of Homecoming tradition.
"We had 12 applicants this year for queen and three for king. This is quite a decline from the eight king candidates we had last year," said Karen Hernandez, assistant commissioner of Campus Events.
To be selected as homecoming king or queen, applicants need to convey to the judges that they are more than just good students.
"Homecoming Court is not about who is the most popular. It represents different cultures, ideas, and who is involved in campus events," said Jesse Torres, Bruinfest Carnival director.
Finalists were selected based on the panel's evaluation of their involvement in campus activities, school spirit, achievements, leadership, ability to articulate ideas and overall impression.
The court will be announced at UCLA's Homecoming, which takes place this Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1 and Nov. 2. Friday's festivities begin at 7 p.m. with the Spirit March and Parade. Bruins can catch a glimpse of the six finalists at the parade, which starts at the corner of Weyburn and Gayley in front of The Coffee Bean and culminate in the traditional rally at the Bruin Bear in Westwood Plaza
Thirty-five groups have been busy at work this week preparing parade entries to this year's theme: "Always a Bruin." Entries will include floats, equestrian groups, celebrity guests including Meredith Baxter-Birney and the Clipper Girls, decorated cars, humorous marching teams and award-winning bands.
Directly following the parade at 8 p.m., the first annual Bruinfest Carnival, sponsored by the Student Alumni Association (SAA), will take place in Westwood Plaza.
Planned Bruinfest activities include interactive games such as human bowling, sumo wrestling, and carnival games. Entry to the Carnival will be free. At 9 p.m., the homecoming coronation will commence on the stage in Westwood Plaza.
Festivities will continue Saturday, Nov. 2, inside the Rose Bowl, when the Bruins will face the Stanford Cardinals in the Homecoming game.
Post-game celebrations will mark the close of this year's Bruin Homecoming.
The Homecoming Court: (clockwise from center-bottom) Michelle Johnson, Greg Chin, Angela Linares, Marcus Zalewski, Petty Tsay, and Jesse Carrasco.