Homecoming King, Queen to Face New Application Process

The Carolina Athletic Association is in charge of organizing Homecoming, but this year it will have assistance from the UNC Board of Elections.

CAA Homecoming Director Kris Willett said the committee will interview all applicants and choose the top three female and male candidates.

The selection committee consists of seven members, including Willett; Sue Kitchen, vice chancellor for student affairs; Ben Singer and Ursula Dimmling, senior class president and vice president; Reid Chaney, CAA president; Justin Young, student body president and Mark Townsend, speaker of Student Congress.

"The committee will increase student participation in the selection of Homecoming king and queen," Chaney said. "I think it'll be good."

Interviews will take place between Oct. 22 and 25, and the top six candidates will be announced Oct. 26.

These interviews will focus on candidates' proposals for service projects that the Homecoming king and queen are required to complete. The committee is looking for well-planned, feasible projects to benefit UNC and the community.

Willett said service projects must be initiated by Jan. 15 and completed by March 20. "During the interviews we will ask candidates about their project proposals, which should be very detailed and thorough," Willett said. "We will choose candidates with the best proposals."

After the interview committee selects the top three candidates for both king and queen, a general campus vote will take place.

Voting this year will be solely online. The elections board is in charge of voting procedures and tallying the votes.

"The election will use the same system as last year," said Emily Margolis, elections board chairwoman. "It went smoothly last year, so we expect it to go well."

The board sets up the online election, which will be available from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Nov. 7. There will be a link located on the Student Central Web site, which may be accessed from any computer.

"Online voting will make the whole process easier and faster," Chaney said.

The online elections will be held the same day as a special election to fill empty seats in Student Congress, which organizers said was an attempt to increase voter turnout for both elections.

The CAA and the elections board also decided to use the official titles of "Homecoming King" and "Homecoming Queen" instead of Mr. and Mrs. UNC this year. "The official title changes and flip-flops nearly every year," Willett said.

She said people have been offended by the titles of "Mr." and "Mrs." and the titles were changed to prevent problems. Willett also hopes this change will establish a standard for coming years.

"This year we wanted to go back to traditions, and the name of Homecoming king and queen are more traditional," Willett said.

Eligible students for Homecoming king and queen must be nominated by an officially recognized student organization. Nominees also must be full-time seniors, with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.8.

Interested students must submit an application by Oct. 15. Applications include a $20 entry fee, resume, letter of recommendation, transcript, a signed proclamation form and two essays.

"We want candidates with strong personalities, who can handle themselves well," Chaney said. "They should also be a good representative of the student body."

The University Editor can be reached at udesk@unc.edu.