Homecoming week is anticipating the return of UAB Football in 2017, with the current year’s theme being “Forever Blaze,” pictured here outside Heritage Hall. Photo by Giani MartinSurabhi Rao -Features Editorfeatures@insideuab.com
Paint the Town launched homecoming week festivities on Sunday, Oct. 16 as student organizations spread out across campus and around Birmingham to decorate buildings in green and gold.
In addition to campus buildings, which are decorated annually, students also had the opportunity to paint the windows of businesses across town, such as Chick-fil-A in Five Points and Crowne on Tenth Apartments.
“Paint the Town really sets the stage because you see it all week. I’m in the band, so we performed yesterday,” said Isabella Mazzei, a junior in the Marching Blazers.
The Student Homecoming Committee organized the event, and 15 student organizations including Fraternity and Sorority Life, registered student organizations and the athletic department together amassed around 70 volunteers who painted the windows of different buildings to showcase school spirit throughout the week.
“Homecoming is always a good time to unify the [organizations] and the board,” President of the Interfraternity Council Allen Mao said. “It is a good way to do community service and see the campus. I love that a large portion of homecoming is done by Greek life. Homecoming is a way to highlight the Greek community because we put a lot of work in, and that’s good because we are trying to expand.”
The student organizations first met at BBVA Compass Field at 3 p.m., where they were each assigned a building. Students were required to sign a contract to come back the weekend after homecoming week to take down the paint.
Students were not given specific instructions on what to paint; rather they were given free reign in designing their Blazer-themed artwork.
Although the student painters were given creative freedom in their artwork, the homecoming theme “Forever Blaze” is displayed on several buildings. This year’s homecoming precedes the first year back for UAB football, and the artwork capitalizes on the anticipation.
“We’re excited. It’s been two years since we haven’t had a football team and this is out way to show how we are because homecoming isn’t homecoming without a football team,” said Carmen Morris, a member of the Homecoming Committee. “When planning Paint the Town, at first we were thinking about the fact that less people would come because there isn’t a team. This is kind of a more sentimental thing. It is homecoming because football is coming. We didn’t plan anything much differently than last year because we want it to be sentimental and just let it be. I love UAB and I have a lot of Blazer pride. What better way to express that pride than to be in the center of Homecoming,” Morris said.
