Trouble with the music system caused the Pep Rally “Yell like Hell” in McAfee Gym to be delayed for approximately 20 minutes while a new system could be brought in.

However, the crowd managed to keep its school spirit while waiting.

Krystine Lomorte, the chair of the University Board, who ran the event, said it went well despite the problem with the system.

“The crowd kept themselves going,” she said.

The malfunction happened during the Pink Panthers’ and some of the football players’ performance. They were stopped when the music could no longer play.

During the wait, the UB threw Frisbees into the crowd and other prizes such as glow sticks. People in the crowd began to throw the Frisbees across the balconies at each other, and the audience cheered if it made it across.

The crowd also did the “wave” across the gym.

At one point, Antonio Taylor, a freshman communications studies major and a member of the football team, went on stage and conducted the audience in a “roller coaster.” This meant that he led a chant in which the audience followed him as they waved their arms as if they were on a roller coaster.

The UB was finally able to bring in a new system and the Pink Panthers were able to start their routine again.

Otis Seawood, special events coordinator for UB, said that malfunction was not a problem.

“We are trained to troubleshoot problems so we just fixed the problem,” Seawood said.

This year’s “Yell Like Hell” also included the Pep Rally and the “Who wants to be a Mascot?” competition, which is a search for the next Billy the Panther.

Different Greek organizations as well as groups like the Black Student Union, EIU Dancers, the EIU Marching Band, the EIU cheer team and Rhythm and X-tacy performed at the event.

The groups performed different rountines and stunts to music such as Lady Gaga’s “Poker Face” and Katy Perry’s “Waking Up in Vegas.”

Amanda Dawson, a sophomore speech pathology major, performed with her sorority Tri Sigma.

“It was very exciting,” she said. “It was very nice to have our girls cheer us on.”

Dawson said her group had been practicing almost every night for the last month.

“I thought it was good to show school spirit,” Dawson said.

Yentl Love, a freshman undecided major, went to the event to support friends.

“I like the different dances and Rhythm and X-tacy,” Love said. “I really enjoyed it.”

Overall, Lomorte said it was great to see all the school spirit.

“Recongize EIU and embrace it,” Lomorte said.

For the “Who wants to be a Mascot?” contest, Ford Hall won first place for a residence hall and Black Student Union won first place for an Registered Student Organization. For the Greeks, first place went to Alpha Gamma Delta and Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Second place went to Beta Theta Pi and Kappa Delta, while third place went to Lambda Chi Alpha and Delta Zeta.

For “Yell like Hell,” first place went to BSU for an RSO. First for the Greeks went to Alpha Phi and Sigma Pi. Second place was Alpha Gamma Delta and the Sigma Phi Epsilon, and third place went to Sigma Kappa and Sigma Chi.

Courtney Bruner can be reached at 581-7942 or

Jake Hanley a graduate student of college student affairs performs during the “Who Wants to be a Mascot” section of the Homecoming Pep Rally Friday in the McAfee Gym. Hanley was competing for Ford Hall, and took first place in the resident hall division.

(more…)