Along with the falling leaves and dipping temperatures, October brings Homecoming to campus.

While temperature changes are common this year, Homecoming is trying some new events out.

Homecoming Chair Brian Allen said all the changes this year will arouse the idea of “getting back to a Homecoming filled with school spirit.”

The additions of house decks and spirit boards may do just that. Members of the Greek community will paint house decks, which are 4-by-8 foot boards on which their Hollywood theme will be displayed.

The decks will be placed outside of each chapter house and will be judged today. The top two sororities and fraternities will be displayed at the football game.

“The house decks are an awesome idea,” said Katie Robie, Sigma Sigma Sigma Homecoming chair. “I only wish the spirit banners were a requirement because there are so many girls that love to hang them on their walls at home.”

Residence halls will paint the windows of their buildings and Registered Student Organizations have a designated window section in the Bridge Lounge.

Spirit boards are free sandwich boards given to any group or committee to display a theme and Eastern spirit. They will be placed around campus for Homecoming Week and then shown at the football game.

Family Fun Night is open to all and Allen said it will bring back the “traditional ideal of what homecoming is about.”

The addition of a Kid’s Corner will add a moonwalk, games, a bags set and a dunk tank.

The participants for the dunk tank include Allen; Bob Dudolski, director of Greek Life; Student Body President Cole Rogers; and Levi Bulgar, student executive vice president.

The money raised will be donated to the Coles County Animal Rescue and Education.

“The entire community is involved with Family Fun Night,” Allen said. “We want them to know that there is more to Homecoming than students drinking and flooding the streets.”

Because of the Hollywood theme, another addition is the “Star for the Day.”

Each student has an opportunity to be the “Star” through the purchase of a raffle ticket. The winner will be announced Friday at the Pep Assembly.

On Oct. 20, the winner will be picked up by limousine and taken to the football game, and will be given two tickets to the President’s Tent. Immediately following the game, the winner and his or her date of choice will have tickets for Cody’s Roadhouse restaurant in Mattoon.

Another addition is “Paint the Town Blue,” in which storeowners can decorate their shops with blue to be judged.

The winner will have a section in the Homecoming booklet.

The Homecoming Parade on Saturday will showcase a “Pets on Parade,” in which the community is allowed to enter their themed pets to walk the parade. Papers for the pets are a requirement. Workers from the Coles County Humane Society will be in attendance with adoptable dogs and cats. These pets will be up for adoption immediately following the parade.