Homecoming 2008

Homecoming has come and gone, and the big winners this year were the many organizations who participated in the week's events.The brothers of Alpha Gamma Rho took to the rope and won first place in the fraternity division of Rope Pull. AGR successfully pulled against Sigma Phi Epsilon and Kappa Alpha to pull against Pi Kappa Alpha on Friday for the championship. Pike defeated Phi Sigma Kappa and Alpha Tau Omega to take second place. Phi Sigma Kappa received third-place honors after defeating SigEp.


The sisters of Gamma Kappa Pi defeated last year's winner Chi Omega to win first place in the sorority division of Rope Pull. Zeta Tau Alpha received third place after pulling against Alpha Delta Pi.


"Seeing the girls pull and win has been the highlight of my trip to UTM. I'm so proud of them," said Jordan Fox, a ZTA alum.

Fox was a member of the ZTA Rope Pull team when she attended UTM.


As the sounds of the '70s filled the air on Tuesday night at Lip Sync, the brothers of Sigma Alpha Epsilon took first place in the fraternity division. The brothers of Sigma Chi won second place and the brothers of KA Order won third. In the sorority division, ChiO won first place and best in show and ADPi won second place.


On Thursday night, some of UTM's other "beauties" took the stage in Watkins Auditorium. The Womanless Beauty Review was hosted by UTM's chapter of Public Relations Student Society of America. The pageant was a fund-raiser for the chapter as well as for We Care.


"Sasha Valentine," a.k.a. Christopher Craig of Kappa Alpha Psi, took the "Miss Understood" crown and Miss Congeniality. "Ilene Dover," a.k.a. Barrett Tanner of ATO, won first maid, and "Selma Body," a.k.a. Jacob Malugin of Leaders in Residence, won second maid, talent and the People's Choice award. :"Elly Mae" and "Jezebel," Zachary Burrows of AGR and Safder Khan of Sigma Chi, respectively, rounded out the court.

Pyramid rocked the Elam Center on Friday night, a tradition that has been around for at least 25 years, said Louis Ragsdale, coordinator for Greek Life.


Some groups began practicing the first week of school, giving them only six weeks to coordinate their performances.

Danelle Fabianich, Pyramid judge and assistant athletic director, said, "They take Pyramid very seriously, and the challenge this year is that homecoming came so early."

Though time may have been an obstacle, it did not stop UTM's greek organizations from doing their best.


"Win or lose, we're going to put on a good show," senior Karin Swarthout, a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, said.

"It's a good way to start off Homecoming," Louis Ragsdale said.


The ladies of Chi Omega took first place and the "Best in Show" award, with ADPi coming in second. This is Chi Omega's fifth consecutive victory in Pyramid.


In the fraternity division, the brothers of Kappa Alpha Order won first place and the "Best in Show" award. Sigma Chi came in second.

Brandon Rosson, a brother of the Kappa Alpha Order, said, "We practiced a lot and came and executed it."


Quad City on Saturday was a fun way for students, alumni, family and friends to interact on campus. AOPi received top honors among sororities for its tent. SAE received first among fraternities. The Department of Education won the overall Quad City competition. ADPi won first place in the banner competition.


At the half time of the homecoming football game versus Tennessee State University, Erin Jordan of ADPi was crowned homecoming queen. Jordan's court included Alyssa Braxton of the BCM, Kimberly Jackson of AOPi, Lauren Lovins of ZTA and Terril Orton of ChiO.

In the National Pan-Hellenic Council Step Show, the brothers of Omega Psi Phi won first place after they heated things up by stepping with their shoes on fire. The brothers of Phi Beta Sigma took second place and Kappa Alpha Psi took third.