CUAB holds banner contest

With the start of Homecoming week today, banners will line the Pit, providing colorful displays of UNC spirit.

The banners, part of a new competition sponsored by the Carolina Union Activities Board, represent different UNC student groups and school loyalty.

A CUAB committee will judge the entries and pick one winner.

The winning group’s banner will be made into a permanent form that will hang in Kenan Stadium.

Judging criteria is based on a point system that will incorporate the banner’s originality, school spirit and demonstration of ways that UNC is better than Duke.

The banners will hang for the entire week of Homecoming, and the winner will be announced via e-mail when the committee decides.

In case of rain, the banners will be inside the buildings surrounding the Pit.

There were 35 groups planning to enter as of Tuesday, and banners were due to CUAB by 5 p.m. Friday.

There is no entry fee for the participating student organizations, and the materials, including banner poster and paint, are provided.

Groups created the banners last week in the Pit.

Sarah Smith, chairwoman of the campus unity committee for CUAB, said making the competition free was an important factor because it allowed all groups to participate.

She added that it gave small organizations with low budgets the opportunity to promote themselves without any cost.

“It’s a great way to get their name out there, especially if they win,” Smith said.

Dance Marathon created a banner to promote its cause and to increase exposure for the group.

“It’s an artistic and creative way to show what our organization is about and show how we are involved in UNC,” said Patience Obasaju, one of the organizers of the 2010 Dance Marathon.

Connor Community government is also participating.

Community Governor McKinney Brown and programming committee member Kelsey Farson said they hoped to demonstrate the closeness of the community with their banner.

Farson agreed that the banner competition will help to represent their small organization.

“I thought it would be a really fun way to celebrate UNC,” she said.

Smith said she hopes the competition will continue in the future and more winning banners will accumulate to be hung together.

“I would hope for it to become a staple of Homecoming week,” she said.



Contact the Arts Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.